Las Tortugas — Restaurant in Germantown

At Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana, everything's vibrant. There's the people -- a dedicated and precise staff, led by Pepe and his son Jonathan who overflow with passion for their food. The space is full of color, both in the vivid shades of the avocado-dressed tacos, the juices (pineapple, watermelon, thick mango, light melon), the sauces (bright green, deep red)...but also in the signs and photos decorating the walls where you are confronted with the unabashed family personality (messages like "We promise the food will arrive...when it's ready" and "No Californians, we don't serve sour cream"). And of course there is the food, the flavor. The food is direct, fresh, high quality, and easy to love. The main attraction comes in the form of a meat (steak, chicken, pork, tilapia, shrimp, crab) served as a set of four small tacos or as a sandwich they call a tortuga. The tacos come well dressed, topped with avocado and cilantro and nestled beside crunchy chips, lettuce, cucumbers, and lime. The bread of the tortuga is like a light brioche, grilled and its center carved out to make it thinner.

You can't go wrong ordering. My favorites are the chorizo and egg tortuga; the crab tacos, served with an exceptional chipotle-mayo sauce that I can't help but order extra of; elote (Mexican street corn on the cob dressed with cheese and chili powder); chicken or pork tamales; the chicken tortilla soup; any of the juices, but particularly the guava juice (when available I request it to be purely guava rather than a mix of guava and lime juice...strong perhaps, but amazing floral depth); and for dessert the flan is of a high quality, firm yet creamy and sitting in a deep brown caramel.

As they admit, sometimes there is a modest wait for the food, most pronounced during primetime when there is a line to order. You can usually call ahead to place your order. The prices are higher than typical for Memphis food ordered by counter, with the tacos and tortugas starting at around $13 and running over $20 for certain meats. But they are fair and reflect the quality of the ingredients and the effort of the preparations, and are a ticket to a...

I have been eating at Las Tortugas for the past 8 years. I have learned basic truths about their food after hundreds of visits. —Las Tortugas’ food is MAGICAL. Every first bite transports me to a place of comfort, deep pleasure, and wonder. The meats are always perfectly cooked and so tender, with a fresh taste that enlivens my soul. The composition of each entree is elegantly balanced. A sandwich, or "torta," has a thin crispy outer shell that holds beautifully layered contents (see picture). —Their food is ridiculously FRESH. I always wondered how food could taste so good at Las Tortugas. After many chats with the owners, I’ve learned part of the secret is how they meticulously source the food from local farmers. The result is super fresh food that your body craves to devour, in the best way. —Las Tortugas has the PUREST, most HEARTWARMING TASTE. Tortugas is a family business. It is run by Pepe and Jonathan, his son. They pour their heart and soul into making Tortugas an extraordinary experience. There is an element of love, care, and rigor put into the food that I haven’t seen anywhere else. —Las Tortugas is a ONE-IN-A-TRILLION experience.

Here’s a list of some of my favorite menu items and hidden gems: —Chile tacos (Tacos del Colorado), Chorizo tortuga, chicken tortilla soup —JUICES. They are fresh and electrifying. My first Tortugas juice was honestly one of my greatest life experiences. —Flan. It may sound a bit exotic (an eggy pudding dessert), but it’s not. It...

We decided to check this place out for dinner on Cinco de Mayo. A small group of us went in the evening, expecting some sort of celebration, but there wasn’t any party or event happening—just a few people casually dining in.

This is a self-service, deli-style Mexican spot that has apparently been featured on a TV show and received some media attention, so it’s somewhat well-known. The person taking orders at the counter—possibly the owner or manager—was friendly and chatted with us a bit. He mentioned that one of his parents is from Mexico, and they aim to keep some of the recipes pretty authentic.

We started with house-made baked chips and guacamole. The chips were great, and the guac was fresh and flavorful, although the portion size felt a bit small. They also served salsa on the side, which surprisingly had pomegranate seeds—an unexpected twist, but it worked well.

For the main course, each of us ordered different items. I went with the al pastor tacos. They were decent, but I’ve definitely had better tacos, even around Memphis. That said, all the ingredients were fresh—especially the avocado and salsa, which stood out.

On a fellow diner’s recommendation, I also tried the mango juice. It was on the pricier side, probably made from real mango rather than concentrate, but it was a bit too sweet for my taste—perhaps they added sugar.

Overall, I’d say it’s an average spot. The vibe is chill and laid-back, and everything tasted fresh, but flavor-wise, it...