La hacienda restaurant — Restaurant in Ocoee

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant – Where Flavor Meets Fiesta Vibes! 🌮

So, picture this: I’m in Orlando, soaking up the vacation vibes, and I decide to meet up with friends for dinner. Now, ever since I moved to Florida from LA, I’ve been on the hunt for an authentic Mexican spot. Not “inspired” Mexican… I want the real deal! My friends know my struggle and suggested we try La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant in Ocoee. Their pitch: “No AC, but we were the only non-Latinos there, and everyone was having the best time sweating it out!” If you know anything about good food, it’s that the best spots are often the hidden gems. So, I was intrigued—nervous about the no AC, but intrigued.

When we pulled up, the parking lot was pretty empty, and I spotted a bunch of Tesla chargers (bummer I wasn’t in the Tesla that night, ha!). Our friends arrived, and surprise, surprise—there was AC! Crisis averted, LOL. It wasn’t super busy, but hey, it was a Monday at 8:30 PM, and they close at 9. Oh, and let’s not forget Hurricane Milton just passed through, so I’m guessing that kept folks at home.

First Impressions: The vibe? Pure Jalisco! From the décor to the music, I felt like I was back in my mom’s hometown. The tunes had me this close to busting out a little quebradita right there. 😂 And honestly, I do believe this place serves authentic Mexican food. You can feel the heart and soul in the flavors, not just “inspired” by Mexico, but truly transporting you there.

Now, let’s talk food! I went in full-on sampler mode because I wanted to try everything. Here’s what I ordered:

2 Tacos de Lengua 1 Enchilada de Pollo with Salsa Verde 1 Quesabirria 6 Camarones a la Diabla 1 Tostada de Ceviche 1 Sope de Pollo 1 Flauta de Res and 1 Flauta de Pollo

The Highlights:

The Tacos de Lengua were absolutely delicious. Tender, flavorful, and they did NOT skimp on the meat. I could’ve eaten six more of these, easily. The Enchilada Verde was killer! The salsa had a perfect kick. Spicy lovers, this one’s for you! The Quesabirria was super tasty, though the consomé needed a little more salt for my liking. Maybe I’m just too salty for my own good. 😉 The Tostada de Ceviche was fresh and light. A little lime and salt, and I devoured it.

The Not-So-Hot:

The Camarones a la Diabla were definitely spicy, yes. Flavorful, not so much. It felt like they just relied on the heat and forgot about the flavor. The Sope de Pollo had potential, but the chicken was dry. Fix that, and it’s a winner! Same story with the Flautas—just too dry for my taste.

Drinks & More:

My friends and partner went all out on the drinks. The Cantarito? A 10/10. The Watermelon Frozen Margarita? Huge hit! The House Margarita? Eh, a 4/10. But the Paloma stole the show, earning an 11/10 (yes, seriously). For food, the Shrimp Fajitas and Chimichanga got solid reviews, though my partner’s real love was the frozen margarita—because, according to him, “If it’s frozen, I’ll like it.” 😂

Final Verdict:

Would I go back? Absolutely! The prices were great, and I’ll definitely be dreaming about those Tacos de Lengua and Enchiladas Verdes. Shoutout to our server, Cindy, who was a total champ and didn’t judge me for ordering one of everything. This spot just opened in April 2024, so they might still be ironing out the kinks. But trust me, it’s worth a visit—especially if you’re charging your Tesla! Just don’t forget to try a Cantarito or two (responsibly,...

Our recent visit to La Hacienda left us with mixed feelings about the overall dining experience.

Let's start with the positives. The appetizers set a promising tone for the meal. The queso with Chorizo was undeniably delicious, offering a tantalizing blend of flavors that left me craving more—likewise, the Coktel De Camaron was very flavorful.

However, the true standout of the evening was the Quesabirria. This dish was nothing short of excellent, delivering on both taste and presentation. Its flavorful combination of ingredients left a lasting impression, making it a must-try for anyone visiting La Hacienda.

Unfortunately, the same level of satisfaction didn't extend to the beverage selection. My disappointment stemmed from the house margarita, which fell short of expectations. The quality of tequila used left much to be desired, resulting in what I can only describe as one of the worst margaritas I've ever had. Hoping for an improvement, I opted for a premium margarita with Patron, fully expecting the upcharge. However, the $5.00 increase in price, coupled with a much smaller serving size, felt disproportionate and left me questioning the value. *see photos The regular short glass (premium) Margarita glass (house)

Moreover, the chips served alongside our meal were a letdown. Not only were they cold, but some were also disappointingly soggy.

On a brighter note, our server, Jaileen, provided exemplary service throughout the evening, enhancing our overall experience with her attentiveness and friendliness.

In conclusion, while La Hacienda offers standout dishes like the Quesabirria and boasts excellent service from staff like Jaileen, there are areas that need improvement, particularly in the beverage and chip departments. Despite these shortcomings, I would still encourage others to give La Hacienda a try.

Pros:

Delicious appetizers, particularly the queso with Chorizo and Coktel De Camarone. The Quesabirria stands out as an exceptional dish. Excellent service from our server, Jailenn.

Cons:

Disappointing drinks, particularly the house margarita. Chips were served cold and some were soggy. The premium margarita felt overpriced for the...

We recently visited La Hacienda and, unfortunately, left disappointed and unimpressed. While the food was passable, the overall experience left much to be desired.

One major issue was their lack of understanding around service animals. Upon arrival around 6:30 pm with my service dog, the hostesses seemed unsure how to handle our situation. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant, in an area clearly set up for a large party that hadn’t yet arrived, and directly in front of the mariachi band who was going to play but had yet to also arrive.

As it was our first time visiting, we didn’t realize this would be an area with heavy foot traffic and noise, which isn’t ideal for a service animal.

Our waitress didn’t help matters either; when we asked what tacos were available, she simply said, “everything.” As first-time visitors, that wasn’t particularly helpful. We had to press for specifics, and even then, we were left a bit lost.

About 35 minutes into our meal, the large party began to arrive, and guests walked closely around and over my service dog, almost stepping on him multiple times. While my dog is trained and non-reactive, the lack of consideration and awareness from the other patrons and staff was disappointing.

Overall, La Hacienda has potential but could greatly benefit from staff training on accommodating service animals and improving the guest experience, particularly for...