Lolis Mexican Cravings — Restaurant in Florida

Honestly I am never going back! It was my first and last time stepping into the hillsborough location. I decided at last minute after walking around RED WHITE and BLUE consignment shop trying to waste time before getting my son from school to grab something to eat while I wait in the car line. By the way it was 12:55pm and there was only two other parties in Lolis tacos already sitting down eating. I walked up to the register with my order and the woman working the register was struggling to communicate the English language with me. As I asked for Rice which is on the menu as a side dish, the young woman did not have a clue what I was saying and turned around to ask a male cook in the back. I next asked for one carne asada with no onions. Lastly I asked for one order of churros with one small coke. The total came to $15.99 and I asked for my order to be To Go! As I waited for my order I noticed an older woman come in after me and asked for multiple tacos, a fountain drink and a side. The older woman paid, got a number and sat down at a table. I stood next to a table that was closer to the register with my one year old who was in his stroller so I could be ready to grab my order as soon as it was called. I waited 10 minutes before another party came in to order their meal. While that party was ordering, a man that was already in the establishment eating at a table in the corner, had gotten up and complained that the staff had forgotten to give him part of his order. Now another 5 minutes have gone by and I see a staff member carry out a larger order of food to the woman that had ordered behind me. I checked the time on my phone and noticed it said 1:17 and knew I had to leave in the next 3 minutes or I was going to be late getting my son from school which is only 2.6 miles away from the plaza. I decided to move my stroller and myself closer to the counter where the register is located and stood there for another 4 minutes before the staff handed me my food. I immediately opened my order because I could tell there was something missing and I was correct. The rice was missing. I politely told the staff even though I was already a little annoyed by how long I was waiting and the fact the person who ordered their food after I had with more food then I had got theirs before I did. The woman who took my order seemed genuinely confused when I told the staff my order was missing but they rushed and grabbed the rice. As soon as I got to my car I opened the carne asada container and my taco was ice cold! The meat felt like they had cooked it earlier that morning, put it in the fridge then just pull it out of the fridge and placed it right on an ice cold corn tortilla with ice cold onions. I figured they would have at least heated the steak back up or COOK it fresh. There was just enough meat in the taco to just cover the entire tortilla and that was me placing it perfectly around the tortilla to show everyone how much I was given especially for almost $4.00. The rice was warm and did have decent flavor but stale and got cold VERY FAST. The churros were the only item that was hot and stayed hot till I parked my car at the school a few minutes away and immediately ate as fast as I could so I could get my oldest.

Unfortunately I hate to say this or be this kind of person to put down an establishment then recommend another one on their review but I really wish I had just drove a few more minutes down the road to Tacos Las California because even if it did cost me more in gas and it’s farther away I know for a fact I would of gotten a meal that is extremely HOT, FRESH, their staff are always giving excellent service and I would of gotten my meal before people who ordered after I had within 10 minutes. Not to mention the Price would have been $14.00 with tax and a tip!

Do better Lolis...

Love this place. My favorite thing is the campechano tacos. And horchata. The tortillas are made in front of you,and even the sauces are from scratch. Truly the best. UPDATE!! Two yrs later. They expanded too fast. This location lacks enough employees. Tortillas no longer made fresh there. If you go at lunch it's often day old tortillas. I've had 3 orders be wrong if late. No one answers phone and some days the meat is oversalted. . I can't give them 5 stars but they are better than taco bell etc UPDATE! I think the Hillsborough location has been around at least 3 yrs. Maybe 4. I wrote first glowing review not too long after they opened this location. Then 2 yrs later. Well, they have declined, so sadly. For sure, still far less than the other sit down mex places near, and far better than Taco bell, but....OK, originally, they cooked the tortillas in front of you. (Handmade at the Benjamin store). Everything was fresh. Now, the once incredible tortillas are lke you can buy at Publix. And unless requested, you get one per taco. mediocre. You used to get two thin, FREESH tortillas.. The fillings... If you got around noon, usually pretty good. if you go late in day, taste like been sitting. If you go weekends, meat portions are very small. They are never busy. So instead of employees cleaning etc, they stand around on phones or flirting with each other. Nowadays, they have music blasting so loud you can barely hear yourself think. Its rare to find one who speaks or understands English, so orders are sometimes totally wrong. I gave up asking for no raw onions as they just didnt get it. Yes, employees are polite. Yes, the food is acceptable. The guac which they added about a year ago is from fresh, and the sopes are good, if you get them at lunch...on weekends, the sope crust is stale and lost crunch. Perhaps cooked on Friday. They serve store bought tortilla chips. The drinks, such as the delicious horchata are so expensive I cant buy them anymore. This location has started to become more dirty...floors look rarely swept and even more rarely mopped. Tables are not bussed after use. They have added a salsa bar for eat in customers but man Id avoid that! I was waiting for a to go order and saw an eat in customer using her hands to root about in the limes etc. Dipping and tasting the salsa! The sauce they serve with the tacos is still good but get the sauce they have put in the little containers, ....not from the bar.. Overall, Id now rate them 3 stars. I think they expanded far too fast, and rely too much on Spanish speaking only young people vs hiring some English speakers. I have yet to see a manager on duty. Sadly, dont see it being around for the long haul unless they make changes. If you have not tried it, do, as you might be happily surprised. This is just my...

I originally found Loli's just Googling for Tacos near me. Moving out to the Westchase/Town N' Country when I had lived along I-75, I didn't know where to get my taco fix. Loli's on Anderson (this location didn't exist yet) wasn't too out of the way on the way home from work. Not sure about others, but where I come from if the parking lot is packed and basically dirt with a little building that has seen better days that's a good sign for your taste buds. I also grew up a lot closer to Mexico, and a U.S. ID was sufficient to cross the border. When I transplanted myself to the bay area, I was truly disappointed with many of the Mexican offerings I found, even the Tex-Mex was only so, so. Loli's is the real deal mi vecinos. Taco wise my favs are the pastor, fish, and ribeye, but I don't think they know how to make a bad taco. Sopes are everything, and you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't try one. The tamales are very flavorful as well with the queso pablano being my fav. I personally need some habanero sauce, avocado salsa, and a little side of beans to accompany whatever I order. These additions will have your taste buds partying. One of my co-workers practically drinks the habanero sauce, so good. Loli's is probably the most popular Payday Friday splurge lunch amongst my office. I'm glad to see this local business is thriving in these crazy times (rather busy the other night and added locations), and meeting our taco needs. Sorry, this review is missing pics. You really think I could pause to take a pic when I have such yummy tacos before me!? Writing this review makes me think I'll be dreaming of tacos tonight and waiting for them to open tomorrow....