La Esmeralda — Restaurant in Jackson

oh. my. gosh.

Why do we live 4 hours from this place?!?

We were on our way home from Lake Tahoe and didn't have a place to eat. figured we would just stop when the urge hit.

Pulled off randomly for a restroom break at a supermarket and this place was a few doors down

We usually check for reviews but we had no signal (I literally had to upload this review once we got signal again. you're welcome! cuz this place is friggin delicious!!!)

I'm suggested to the hubby we just grab some Mexican, cuz we were already stopped. We both got 2 quesabirrias. I got an additional al pastor taco and he got an additional carnitas.

First off...I'm picky with my tacos..Al pastor can be so hit or miss.

this was by far...the best Al pastor taco I have ever had in my LIFE. the char was perfection! the meat was so tender! the juicy sweet buttery sauce was to die for! the salsa on top ...insane.

every bite was perfection.

the quesabirrias... I drank the broth . I normally enjoy the broth wherever I get quesabirrias! but ....I drank every drop of this broth after . so good!!!!!

their salsa bar is the best salsa bar I've ever seen. it has fresh warm seasoned chips and the bar has limes. jalapenos, nopales salad, jalapeno carrots and onions, pickled red onions, cabbage salad, four different kinds of red and green salsa, and jalapeno cream dip .

I tried almost everything.....each one was a bite of heaven.

seriously? how???

I don't know how. but why is this place so far away from my house?!!

Is four hours too far to get tacos?

after today, I think not.

DELISH!!! I'm sure there is some reason why I need to come to Jackson next week. I will be...

Came in today for lunch and was pleasantly surprised! This is my first time trying this restaurant and I'm happy with everything. I ordered their special which for today was 2 enchiladas with beans and rice. My friend ordered their chicken fajitas and that also came with rice and beans. We ordered michaladas, which were about average, but the real star here was the delicious food and their fresh chips and salsa bar! Staff is friendly and everything was very clean. This will be my go to stop for Mexican food when I'm in Jackson. Thank you for making such good quality food.

Edit: (early March 2023) unfortunately I've taken a star away because lately it seems there's a new cook and get don't season the food well the way they used to. I thought maybe it was just an off day so came back later in the week to try but had the same issue. Everything is still fresh, and customer service is fine too. Chef needs to step their game up though. I'll come again but if there's no improvement I'll not be coming again which would be unfortunate because this spot was my favorite Mexican place in Jackson! I hope...

I don't like giving a low rating to anyone, so I usually just give reviews when they're good. In this case, I feel it is necessary to warn people about the food and strange patron who was allowed to sit at a table and talk insessivly about his criminal acts and his mental illness, when it was apparent that he wasn't there to eat. My husband had to go to the back room to tell the employee about the unstable man sitting near us, the employee said he comes in all the time, and is harmless. I wonder if they know what scary things this sick patron is saying...non-stop! Now, the food, I had the Lingua tacos a few days earlier.....they were very good, so I brought my husband there this day. My lingua was rotten-tasting and not chewable, therefore, I couldn't eat it. My husband's chili verde was fatty and tough, and so acidic, that it gave him heartburn. We never seen the employee come out of the back room. I had to choose a tip amount when I paid before we received our food. That was $29 thrown away. I don't recommend...