Jalapeño Méxican Restaurant — Restaurant in Lawrenceville

I went to this restaurant yesterday. It was clean, service was good, food was good (I had asada tacos, sope asada which was great and the bistec steak salsa verde) and the various salsa’s were good. I was excited, ready to come back very soon and ready to give them 4.5 stars until I found out they don’t dispose of the red salsa they give you for the chips!! It comes in a small open carafe and they give you a little bowl to pour it in. I had half left in my carafe and wanted to take it home when the waitress told me she would give me a pre-made to-go cup to take home. I told her to just bring me an empty cup and I would take what I had so it didn’t go to waste. She told me “they don’t throw it out, they just refill it.” To be clear, I asked “so you take the salsa off the table that a customer has used, you don’t know what they’ve done to it and you take it to the back and put it back in the bucket to be served to the next customer???” She said, “no, we just put more in the bottle to refill it with whatever is remaining in the bottle.” THIS IS DANGEROUS AND UNSANITARY AS SOMEONE COULD INTENTIONALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY PUT SOMETHING IN THE SALSA WHICH COULD HARM OTHERS AND THEY WILL BE SERVING THAT SALSA TO OTHER CUSTOMERS!!!!! I spoke to the manager, Jose, to voice my concerns and he confirmed this is what they do and his logic was “he trust all his customers are in good health and they wouldn’t intentionally put anything harmful in the salsa so he feels it’s ok to re-serve it.” He went on to confirm they never add the salsa they give a customer back to the bucket of salsa in the back, they just add to the bottle to refill it. He then told me if I come back I am welcome to request my salsa come straight from the bucket and not a refilled carafe. SMH...ISN’T THIS A FOOD SAFETY VIOLATION?!?!? MANAGEMENT, YOU’RE PUTTING YOUR CUSTOMERS HEALTH AND LIVES AT RISK BY DOING THIS!!!!!! YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER CHANGING THIS PRACTICE FOR THE BENEFIT OF YOUR CUSTOMERS, THE VERY PEOPLE THAT KEEP YOUR...

Wow! I totally did not expect the flavor bomb I got on my fist bite. I got a lunch special, the burrito, taco with refried beans and rice, mild salsa and salsa verda. Lots of food in the dish. No picture as I ate it before I thought of a picture. I was very surprised at how delicious the food was. Flavors and perfect texture with each bite. I really dig south of the border food, eat at many places throughout the year. The was my first here. Having beef for my meat for the burrito and taco that was very flavorful, not bland like many others I eat. The salsa just added to the deliciousness 😋. The rice too was packed with flavor as was the refried beans. Just incredible! I have now found me a pay day Friday lunch place. Was not very crowded. Dine in, carry out, and delivery avaliable. Staff super friendly I recommend you give this little place a try. I know I will be back...

So happy I found this little gem! It's been around for almost a decade on the other side of my town and I just discovered how fantastic it is! First thing they scored a perfect 100 on their health score dated 12/22/22 (most other Mexican restaurants within a 10 mile radius of my home were at 80-89). At this time they aren't serving alcohol (they stopped during the pandemic bc they were paying so much to the city for the license that wasn't being used). The food was DELICIOUS best shrimp quesadilla I've had out! Went to all my friend how his food was and noticed his plate was clean 😂 so he most definitely enjoyed the burrito, tamale, and tostada along with rice and beans! Our waiter was great.... with suggestions and making sure we had everything we needed. Did I mention the salsa is made fresh daily in house and it is SUPERB! This place will be on our Mexican...