La Cruzada Restaurant — Restaurant in Homestead

While I was down in Homestead, exploring the local National Parks, I was looking for the best local cuisines to dine at. In my research, I found La Cruzada, which seems like more of an authentic Mexican restaurant, and less of an American Mexican restaurant. Both have their merits, of course, but I just had to check this place out.

The inside décor felt similar to the Mexican restaurant vibe I got from the menu and pictures online. I liked it a lot. A variety of Mexican music blasted from the speakers in all of their many dining rooms, all looking very different from one another. It was tough to keep up with my host, with all my looking around at staff.

But anyway. I got seated and ordered some food. I looked at the menu, lots of good options, and I settled on the Molcajete (Chicken, Beef Fajita & Shrimp mixed in red sauce, fried cheese, chives & cactus leaves. Served with rice & beans). I also asked for a side of tortillas. Look at the pic. This thing was intimidating and very attractive.

Everything was soaking in that deeply flavored red sauce, so you have to go digging. But one you find your prize, man, the chicken is just so juicy and charred up, the beef was tender and spiced well, the shrimp were huge and plump and not overcooked. The unique elements here were the fried cheese and the cactus, and I loved them both. Put some with some rice and beans in a little taco, mwah, chef's kiss.

I also got to try the Tres Amigos (2 tostadas, 2 tacos, 2 enchiladas with rice & beans). I love flights, and this was a nice little flight of some simple basics. The tostadas were excellent and crispy, and the enchilada sauce was perfect, just a good dish. No complaints.

Overall, the difference between a place like this and an American Mexican restaurant is very obvious in aesthetics and menu items. If you haven't been to a place like this, I recommend it. It's a good experience, and this was a give start one of those...

I've been going to la cruzada for a little over a year now. Until today I've decided not to ever go back. This used to be a place to get dinner for my wife and I at a decent price. I used to get a meal for two for just around 25- 30 dollars it's always been good food.

But as of today 6/4...our meal costed us $50 the price has doubled over night. Online everything says the same price as we used to pay and are used to paying. I get there and was surprised by that bill. Mind you I'm used to paying no more than 30 32 at max for all of our food. So I questioned the bill and spoke to the manager.

Her exact words were the menu has changed, which I think they just added things. But that the prices have changed. More like doubled almost tripled. And was explained that prices changed due to the cost of meat. I'm sorry but you don't charge your customers double or triple the price due to your food costs only to RIP off your customers. That price is for like a dine in with tip. Needless to say will not be returning any longer.

You just lost a frequent customer. Mind you I used to love going there but I'm not paying 50 bucks for 5 tacos a soup and two other things that's beyond ridiculous good bye la cruzada. Unless you change your prices back, never again going back thanks for ruining my dinner. I should have said forget it and walked away, and taken my business else where..

There are plenty of Mexican restaurants here in homestead. Your not the only one I chose la cruzada because we've always had good experiences....

I yelped to find a Mexican restaurant near our day out in homestead and this one had high ratings and seemed to be just our flavor (ha. See what I did there) so we stopped in to give it a try. So glad we did.

The chips were clearly homemade. We asked for chips and salsa and it came with a spicy salsa which was ok but we ended up upgrading to the pico which was fresh and came with 3 sauces of different heat levels. Much better option.

The carne asada burrito was, to quote my companion, very yummy. It had chopped carne asada which was full of flavor. The wet ingredients were wet and the dry ingredients were dry which is quite the accomplishment when it comes to a burrito.

I had the fajitas they were good. The tortillas were homemade which was nice. They were served with refried beans, rice and lettuce.

Notes/hints

Soda is available as cans or Mexican in a bottle. I should have ordered the bottle. Large and refreshing compared to the soda.

The restroom was locked. Apparently one should request a key to get inside instead of assuming someone must be really sick to be taking so long inside.

The notes about the service issue may be outdated. Our service was lovely.

There is indoor and outdoor seating options.

The menu has no prices which can be a little off putting to be honest but, you can see the to go menu online and that has prices. I posted our receipt for reference but the prices are what I would expect.

Conveniently located between mdc...