Lolis Mexican Cravings — Restaurant in Florida

Found Loli's on Yelp looking for alternative to my two go to places, Taco Bus (Tampa) and Capital Taco (Land O' Lakes). This is a basic place in a house that was converted to a restaurant. It is in this odd area where you would not think there would be a restaurant, just east of the Veterans, around the corner from the PDQ, but on a road (Benjamin) that has mostly business/light industrial. When I walked in I saw a women making home made tortillas - a good sign. This place is basic, but in a good way. Clean, several tables, and that old time-y menu board w/ the red and black lettering. It is your usual pick a protein and pick what form you want it in. I decided to put together a taco sampler, one Ribeye, one fish and one carnitas. They were all good, although I wish they had a carne asada option rather than Ribeye. I will definitely go back to try more.Their tacos were less complex and flavorful than Capital Taco. But I do not mean that as a bad thing. Just different. Sometimes simple is good, which it is at Loli's. My bill was just under $10 for three tacos and a can of diet coke. They have tamales, but only certain days.

Two things that could be improved - do not have the tv in the dining area on so loud (staff turned it on while I was there, and it was LOUD), plus the staff could have been a bit more friendly (something I expect from a mom & pop place like this). They were not rude or unfriendly, but they were not friendly either - just sort of meh (for lack of a better word!).

Went back here in summer 2016. I had two fish tacos. They were good. Fresh and I liked the sauce. Served by friendly staff, good price. Come to think of it, as I am writing this review I am thinking of going back...

Well.....it’s just OK! I recently decided to try out this place due to several recommendations from friends. I was told by one person that they had an extensive list for tamales....well I think there was some confusion with that. They probably meant tacos and not the tamales. Lol There’s a big menu to choose from for tacos and two types of tamales (chicken or pork). I had the chicken tamale and ribeye taco. 🌮 We also ordered two vegetarian tacos and one horchata drink (rice milk 🥛 drink).

Thoughts: -tacos are reasonably priced at or around $3 each with lots of different types to choose from. -the ribeye taco could’ve been better, it was just ok. -the tamale was over steamed as the corn masa part of the tamale was too soggy and falling apart. The chicken inside was very under seasoned and looked/tasted like plain chicken breast from a can TBH. I didn’t even see the salsa verde in the tamale either. -vegetarian tacos were good...especially because they give you two tortillas per taco! -the salsas that came with the meal were decent but even the spiciest salsa was not very hot at all!

All in all I can see why this place is busy due to being a fast food taco place- very inexpensive The only thing I really can say I enjoyed from my meal was the horchata. Hands down it was that good!👍 Would I come back? Maybe if I want tacos and I am in the neighborhood. It’s worth to try a place at least once and see how you like it! Also, Diego who worked at the register was very HELPFUL and super kind!!! He answered all my questions I had for him without making me feel rushed or anything to that extent. Thanks DIEGO!

and thank you for reading...

Not sure what's all the rave is about this place as my experience was, I'd put it, just okay. The taste is there, the visual presentation of the food is there, the spice is there, the price point is perfect (about $2.50 for a taco and $3.00 for a sope - reasonable). Unfortunately, the freshness and quality control of their meats leaves a lot to be desired.

Lolis is located off of Benjamin Rd. in what is the start of an industrial/business area of Tampa.

My wife and I ordered a variety as a sample. (Chicken taco, sope carnitas, chicken sope chipotle). All had great flavor but for they failed on the meat. The pork was well past what should have been served. The taste of the marinate was good but the meat was tough, crusty and very hard to chew. It's as if it was left under a heat lamp for the entire day and then served to us (we ate there at 9:00 pm) . The chicken was not as bad but still should not have been served!

The sopes were also very tough and I needed a knife to get through them. Another example of serving food items paste their shelf life. The plastic knife I used to try and cut through the sope almost broke. That's a tall tale sign of serving old, not fresh food.

The dining area is small with about three to four tables that seat four and two to three tables that seat two. You order at the resister and they bring it out once it's prepared. The wait time from once the order was completed to table was about three to five minutes. The staff was very friendly, courteous and helpful.

I'd go back and try the place again but if it's the same situation with the meat, I...