La Carreta Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Nashua

My wife and I had lunch at La Carreta Mexican Restaurant on a weekday. We have been eating at this restaurant since it opened over 20 years ago. It was the best Mexican restaurant in New England and it was always busy. It still is today and there are a number of family offshoots from it, but the original location is still a winner.

Our lunch began with the requisite complimentary bowl of chips and a mild red salsa. The chips were just as they should be - thin and crispy.

I ordered the lunch Grande Burrito with steak because it is stuffed with more than just meat like most of the offshoots offer. This is a true meal in a flour tortilla similar to what you can find in the Southwest. It filled the plate on which it arrived and came smothered in a red sauce and nacho cheese. Cutting into it I discovered it was filled with rice and beans and the meat.

The mix of all those items made this almost like a thick stew inside the flour tortilla shell and I enjoyed every bite. If I could have done anything to make it even better, La Carreta's would offer the same thing in their Chimichanga. To top it off I ordered a side of fresh sliced jalapenos and a cold mug of Negra Modelo beer.

My wife enjoyed the Special Lunch #3 with chicken, which came with an enchilada, taco, rice and beans. She also ordered an iced tea which she felt was a bit strong. That is usually an indication that they haven't cleaned their tea urn in a while.

The service was quick and attentive even though they were moderately busy.

Any of the La Carreta Mexican Restaurant locations have always been our go to places for the some of the best Mexican food in New Hampshire. You won't find any mint in the refried beans here. This is authentic Tex-Mex and well worth a visit for a great meal and service at...

I grew up in Southern California where my "native cuisine" was Mexican. Anyone who has been there understands that there is a taco stand or small Mexican restaurant on every corner...sometimes two or three...or even four. La Carreta could hold its own with most of them.

There are a few misses...soft tacos should be made with soft corn tortillas...not flour. And packaged taco shells like you get at Taco Bell are a turn off. But the chips and salsa are home made and delicious, the margaritas are perfect (bring back the 32 oz!) and the carnitas are tender, juicy and delicious. They have a wonderful mole sauce, and their carne asada is delicious. Excellent beans and rice (made with peas and chunks of potatoes...yummy!) and a terrific chicken taco salad in a flour tostada bowl.

My favorite thing to do is take whatever is left over, pour it and salsa over chips and take it home for the next day. Love it.

My wife loves the vegetable quesadilla, (but there is no accounting for taste...she doesn't even like cilantro), and my boys love the nachos supreme (and they give me the guacamole). Oh, and the chili rellenos are great, as is anything with their salsa Verde.

As a transplanted Californian, my first course of business when I came here was to find good Mexican food. I tried a bunch of them and never went back. Once I found La Carreta, I stopped looking.

The service is excellent (I am still often surprised at how quickly the food comes...fresh and always hot) and the servers are personable and pleasant, and after going there for the past nine years we are known by a few of them.

It's a good thing, too, as the place is nearly always packed...especially on Friday and...

I normally would rate this place a 5.. but my last trip just a few days ago makes me feel as if I won't go again. I went around 430, so the restaurant wasn't too busy, but had a few people. It was myself, a friend, and my 5 year old. We were seated on the complete opposite side of the restaurant as the other patrons. Alone. Assumingly because of my daughter. We waited about 10 minutes just for chips and salsa, and we were then immediately rushed into ordering. My friend ordered just tacos, and received just tacos. I ordered just tacos, and got tacos, rice and beans. As I ordered my food, I pointed to it and showed what I wanted. For my daughter, I ordered just a single taco. I even said "just the $2.00 taco". Her plate came with rice, beans, Pico de gallo. The food was dropped off when we were in the bathroom, and I didn't see him until he brought over the check. I tried to explain the mixup and he rudely interrupted me and said "No. This is what you ordered." I asked him for a price adjustment because I definitely didn't order the rice and beans for both of us (because we don't even like them!) And he told me no, and asked if I was ready to pay.

I felt very disrespected, and I might have expected this from a different establishment...but not from the place that myself and my family have enjoyed for many years. I don't believe I will return, and I would NOT recommend this place to...