Mi Casa Restaurant — Restaurant in Lakewood

Considering how popular this place has been over the years, it was surprising to see it empty. My friend and I walked into a warm and pretty stuffy restaurant.

But our server was attentive and very accommodating to our every request. What a smile! We each ordered the El Jefe breakfast burrito. It's a pretty huge wet burrito to have for breakfast, but I'm not complaining. The scoops of quacamole and sour cream were almost a tiny afterthought, though. Obviously served with a 2 oz scoop, so my friend asked for red sauce and extra sour cream. Our server kept our waters filled with cheer... and water!

Then came the bill... 😳

The El Jefe is a $16 burrito. It seems fine since most burritos have gone up in price. A $10 to go burrito is no longer out of the ordinary. But back in my day, you could score a nice chubby one for about $3. Yeah, I know. In my day. But since this is a pretty huge burrito, I'd expect extra condiments at no extra charge... or at least maybe .50. Nope. $2 each. So my friend's burrito was $20. A $20 breakfast burrito. $2 for about 2oz of red sauce and $2 for about a 2 oz scoop of sour cream. That would make a 16 oz tub of sour cream about $16. Same with a can of red or enchilada sauce. I can make that at home with tomato sauce and spices for les than $1.

Yes, I understand overhead costs and profit margins. But this is way out of proportion. Perhaps it's the fact that our minimum wage in CA is way over the top. But Mexican food used to be the cheapest you could get. We Mexican Americans can really make something tasty out of not much.

Sadly, this will deter our visits here. We won't be back anytime soon. No wonder it was empty. Maybe others will pay a $40 breakfast check for 2. Can't imagine if we'd...

The food was the best I've had in a long time. The flavors were authentic. Their salsa was not the typical onion, cilantro, tomatoes with some kinda liquid in it. It was a spicey, flavorful chili salsa served with thin chips with the right amount of salt. I had a chili relleno smothered in cheese and a red sauce and a taco served with delicious beans and rice. Again, authentic flavors, not "rice-a-roni" and "rosarita" beans. The waitress was so friendly and genuine, taking the time to have a conversation and told us a little history of the place. It wasn't too crowded when my husband and I came around 7:00pm but I've seen it crowded and remarked we have to go one day. That day came and we will definitely be returning. I want to go for breakfast next. I wish I took pictures of our food but just got a pic of the quaintness of...

Absolutely blown away by this hidden gem of a Mexican restaurant—easily 5+ stars! I came in craving Menudo and, honestly, was a little hesitant at first when it comes to trying new places. But after seeing all the glowing reviews, I decided to give it a shot, and I’m so glad I did!

From the moment I walked in, the service was top-notch—friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The staff made me feel like a valued guest, not just another customer. Now let’s talk about the food... the Menudo was absolutely delicious! Rich, flavorful, and perfectly prepared—it hit the spot and then some!

This place totally exceeded my expectations. I’ll definitely be coming back regularly. If you're looking for authentic flavors and fantastic service, do yourself a favor and check this place out....