La Tienda — Restaurant in Gainesville

This place was delicious. Now I've had authentic tacos all over including many locations in Mexico and Colombia and in pockets of the US you'd never think about venturing or you'd never imagine would have the best you've ever tasted! I love taquerias with little mercados attached. This place is cool with great ceramic imports, minor groceries and a meat counter. Oh, and super cute pinatas. My husband and I both ordered the tacos options. We love alternative choices to the norm of beef and chicken so we tried goat, scallops and cabeza. All favorites we've had before. Our most favorite is the renowned Al pastor. Sad to say, the scallops taco was the best. It had a yummy spicy creamy sauce. The others had great flavor but all were dry. Very dry. The goat was pulled but not chopped down to chewable size. It was long strands of dry sauce less meat. But again, great flavor. The Al pastor lacked that red adobada sauce with pineapple cooked trompo (spit style). No juices dripping down your hand and cheek ☹️. This place was authentic in it's efforts and food but the execution lacked. Meats seemed prepared way ahead and reheated on the tacos. I gave this place a 4 rating because it had a lot to offer. There was a daily special stew that looked delicious! Plates of fresh chunky bright guacamole with piled high chips whizzed by and steaming hot quesadillas. Many alternatives to what we ate. I look forward to going back and having a new experience. Hopefully the horchata will be made and ready. Lots of other traditional bottled drinks along with fountain drinks and tea are available. Super quick friendly service too! So don't just drive by or read about it on your tourist guide, get there...

This is a perfect place to stop while on a road trip. The location is very cute and has free parking. Simply order at the counter and the staff will they your food out to your table. We decided to sit outside and and enjoy the warm air, after being cooped up in the stuffy car. Yeah we are on a road trip to Southwest Florida.

We also ordered chips and salsa, which aren't free but a deal at only $1.90. Order two and live a little. When the waitress brought out the chips they were still hot from the fryer. The salsa was good but it tasted like the typical red jar salsa we buy at a grocery store.

I ordered a steak & onion burrito, The steak quality was very good. It was prepared very simple with only beans, rice, grilled onions and I added cheese. I would have loved some lettuce and tomato too but didn't want to complicate my order. I used the green salsa to add some extra flavor.

My girls got the green chicken enchiladas and red chicken enchiladas. The plates looked like art with a beautiful salad on top with lettuce, onion, tomato, sour cream, cheese & avocado. The two sauces were really unique. I have never had those flavor profiles before so be aware it won't taste like your typical Mexican food place. My little girl didn't care for the green sauce but I was able to fix the dish for her with the provided green avocado tomatillo salsa. They also have a red salsa that will kill you. I repeat it will kill you. I dare you to use it but you better be ready for the burn. My wife loved her enchiladas. She was happy with the salad over the top of her dish.

We are glad we found this place. It's a great pit stop when driving on the road. We would totally...

As always, La Tienda was AWESOME. They have been out favorite restaurant for true, authentic Mexican cuisine for years. Unfortunately, my wife and I moved 1,600 miles north give years ago and had not been back since we moved. But this restaurant was right at the top of our list of priorities when it came to where we would be eating while in Florida. They truly have the best Mexican food we have ever eaten, and that's saying a LOT because my wife and I (and our three kids) all love Mexican food. This place has something for everybody. Their chips and queso alone are worth the 1,600 mile drive! And that's just the appetizers! The steak quesadilla is also a must for us. I've eaten Mexican food in El Paso, Texas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Albuquerque, and everywhere in between. But I have literally never been as blown away as I am by La Tienda, and even after being gone for five years, it was just as good tonight as it's ever been. In conclusion, if you have never eaten here before and you love TRUE Mexican cuisine, you owe it to yourself to drop in and order up the best food you will ever eat. But be warned, they will ruin you for all other Mexican restaurants. I'm not kidding. They are the standard by which all other Mexican restaurants are judged. You can thank me later for the recommendation! PS - I didn't even mention their guacamole 🥑. That's because I am one of the few people I know who doesn't care for guacamole. But from everything I've ever heard, theirs is delicious, if...