La Reina Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Chester

Okay, first off, La Reina is amazing inside. The feel of the restaurant is very welcoming, the amount of love and care that is being put into this establishment can be felt and seen everywhere inside. Well decorated, clean, fresh paint.. it was a nice "hey, let's try this place" right after work today.

The waiter was awesome, everyone was super attentive. (One of the few people in there after 4).. They weren't hovering, but was there the moment we were done with a plate/ needed a refill, they checked on us after a bit to see how we were enjoying our food. I felt like it was just the right amount of attention needed without feeling crowded or the complete opposite of ignored. (That's a delicate balance, most anywhere else I feel ignored.) Seriously wish I got the name of our waiter, he freaking rocked, but shout-out to all the staff there today!

The salsas for the chips. I think there was 5 or 6 total? This was the first time my boyfriend and I finished off the chips because the dips were that amazing.

There was two "spicy" dips, they were pretty good, but I'm not the type to want to be on fire and hurting later. One I think was habanero? I can usually do habanero and not feel it, oh. My. My tongue was fine, the moment it lightly caressed my throat and tonsils, that's another story. I had to take a moment! Another sauce had a bunch of seeds and was spicy, and then there was an avocado one.. after a few bites I felt the heat on that as well. Gave all three a try, they were good!

I loved the white dip, and oh my god when they gave us a mango salsa and then a pineapple salsa.. I was in heaven. I love fruits, but I never thought to make it into a salsa! The mango was tasty, the pineapple was freaking perfect. It's been a while since I've had perfectly sweet pineapple! It tasted fresh, I don't know if it was, but it tasted like the sweet white ones my dad grows/grew in Florida. This made me super happy. (To the point I got super excited and dropped a piece of pineapple 😭.. I know, a complete sin!)

My boyfriend ordered the Super Rani.

I ordered shrimp tacos.

When they brought out his, we looked at each other in confusion, he even thought that it was someone else's order. (okay we both were ignorant, but we were not expecting a metal tray with a little canned heat/sterno to keep it hot).

The flavors. Oh my god. Everything was super fresh, the guac tasted like they made it right before we ordered, even the sour cream was refreshing!

The fried ice cream had whipped cream, chocolate, strawberry, and caramel sauce decorated around the plate. The ice cream had churro cinnamon toast crunch (and was amazing for the crunch texture).. loved it.

I can honestly say this was an amazing trip. The food, the flavors, the staff, the restaurant and even the price of the food. The only regret I had was I feel like I didn't take enough pictures. Usually I like to do the entire restaurant, but when I went to take pictures, I was getting looks and I felt awkward.. but that's more on me than anyone else.

Seriously cannot wait to go back, loved seeing the liquor bar and even the shotgun. (Might need to ask about that one at...

Got to enjoy the "new-ish" Mexican restaurant La Reina with the fam for a late lunch/early dinner yesterday and it did not disappoint! But don't be fooled by the word Mexican because they aren't your typical Mexican restaurant.

Upon being seated they do bring you the typical chips, salsa, and white sauce but they also kick it up a notch with a side of bean dip and mango salsa as well. Needless to say we needed an extra basket of chips to help finish off all the tasty dipping options that lay before us.

I got there a little late so I didn't have much time to peruse the menu before everyone was ready to order so I can't give any specific details on that topic unfortunately. However, I can say that my meal (Pollo Supremo) was anything but ordinary and was absolutely amazing! It was chicken, onions, and mushrooms in a cream sauce that I just can't describe. I was so enamored by it that I came close to picking up my dish and drinking what was left so as not to waste it! 😋 The boy ordered a steak dish and it was smothered with veggies and a yummy sauce as well. He said it was quite tender but I'm not sure that he had time to taste it as quickly as he inhaled it. Mom's Pollo Jalisco was definitely not your typical Jalisco dish and she enjoyed herself as well. The presentation of my nephew's order (Tony Molcajete) was a dish that rivaled that of fancy restaurants. It was a combination of shrimp, steak, chicken, cactus, and veggies topped with a delectable sauce. He ate every single bite! We all shared desserts that included flan, fried ice cream (because honestly who doesn't enjoy it!), and little cakes stuffed with cream and topped with a strawberry sauce called gansito jazmine. Sorry, I failed to get pictures of them because we were all eager to try it. The boys said the flan was very creamy and had a rich caramel flavor to it. It has become the boys 2nd favorite flan ever! The fried ice cream was rather tasty and done differently as well. They used their cinnamon sugar coated fried tortillas as the shell and they also topped it with the strawberry and chocolate sauces as well. The French vanilla ice cream was delicious and the edible bowl tasted very fresh. The gansito was not quite my jam but the nephew thoroughly enjoyed it as well.

All in all it was a great meal and priced pretty average for that style of food. The service was good (it was a little slow but in their defense they had an extremely large birthday party that they were handing as well). If you're looking to try an old favorite with a little bit of flare then definitely try out La Reina. They are easy to find because they took over the old Denny's building at 10/95 in Chester. We will certainly be back and maybe we'll...

I decided to stop here for a self love lunch date, after strangely needed fuel at the gas station across the street. As I was fueling I could smell the distinct aromatic sensation of a grill at work, break the stench if raw gasoline. I glance over and see the Mexican flags displayed proudly in the side windows facing the street. I quickly finish my fill up and scurry across said street. I pull in, it has a diner feel, a man sits to the right in the window glancing out clearly enjoying his meal, it fills me w/ confidence that I will do the same... I walk in and am warmly greeted by ayoung man behind the cash register. He hands me a menu, as he asks me "here" or to "go"? I respond here, and sit at the bar. I open the menu, and quickly notice that the lunch prices are incomparable for the value of food which one would aquire in this day and age of junk, especially in this area. Food came out promptly and at the epitome of freshness! I sat at the bar and could see the cook working hard on my meal... The second the chicken hit the grill I could smell it. My mouth watered in anticipation. I ordered a 16.oz modelo off the tap. It came in an ice covered frozen mug, filled to the brim. I took a long sip from the rim... It tasted as if it had just got cold brewed into my hands. Whew... I'll stop by for the beer alone, however the beer was not the highlight of my afternoon, let's not forget my chicken. I ordered the Arroz con Pollo... It came out tossed over a golden bed of rice, with a white cheese sauce carefully glazed stop it's tall chicken mound. I grabbed my fork, after snapping this picture, and dug in... The chicken had the little crisp edges, but tender juicy inside you desire from a sales commerical, the cheese sauce mixed w/ the chicken and rice ensemble as if they were created that way. In one word, "perfection".

I can't wait to go back and try some other meals... Maybe I'll see you on a self love lunch date too... Until next time, All my love & God's blessings be upon you!...