La Sierra Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Payson

La Sierra Mexican Restaurant, located at 800 N Beeline Hwy A in Payson, AZ, is an absolute treasure! My dining experience here was nothing short of extraordinary, thanks to the delicious food, vibrant atmosphere, and outstanding service—especially from our wonderful server, Elizabeth.

Ambiance and Atmosphere: As soon as you walk into La Sierra, you’re embraced by a warm and inviting atmosphere. The decor is charming, with beautiful Mexican-inspired artwork and vibrant colors that create a cozy yet lively environment. Whether you’re there for a family meal, a date night, or just a casual bite, the ambiance is perfect for any occasion.

Service: The service at La Sierra is truly exceptional, and Elizabeth made our visit even more special. From the moment we were seated, Elizabeth greeted us with a warm smile and genuine hospitality. She was incredibly attentive throughout our meal, ensuring that our drinks were always topped off and that we had everything we needed. Her knowledge of the menu was impressive, and her recommendations were spot on. Elizabeth’s friendly demeanor and impeccable service made us feel like valued guests, and she truly elevated our dining experience.

Food: Now, onto the star of the show—the food! The menu at La Sierra offers a wide range of authentic Mexican dishes, each bursting with flavor and made from fresh, high-quality ingredients.

We started with the chips and salsa, which were a delightful start to the meal. The salsa had the perfect balance of heat and flavor, and the chips were freshly made, crispy, and seasoned just right. We also couldn’t resist trying the guacamole, which was creamy, flavorful, and clearly made from the freshest avocados.

For my main course, I chose the Carnitas Plate, and it was simply outstanding. The carnitas were tender, juicy, and seasoned to perfection, with just the right amount of crispiness on the edges. The dish came with a generous portion of rice, beans, and warm tortillas, making it a hearty and satisfying meal. Elizabeth’s recommendation of the carnitas was spot on—I couldn’t have been happier with my choice.

My dining companion ordered the Enchiladas Suizas, which were equally impressive. The enchiladas were filled with tender, flavorful chicken and smothered in a rich, creamy green sauce that was to die for. The combination of flavors was absolutely delicious, and the dish was beautifully presented.

For dessert, we indulged in the Flan, which was a perfect end to our meal. The flan was smooth, creamy, and had just the right amount of sweetness, with a delightful caramel sauce that left us wanting more.

Value: La Sierra offers excellent value for the quality and quantity of food you receive. The portions are generous, the ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are authentic. Given the exceptional service from Elizabeth and the overall dining experience, the prices are more than reasonable.

Overall: La Sierra Mexican Restaurant is a must-visit if you find yourself in Payson. The combination of authentic, flavorful Mexican cuisine, warm and inviting atmosphere, and top-notch service makes...

I'm having trouble deciding what to call this. I'm in an internal debate between calling it bad service with worse food, or bad food with worse service. I guess it doesn't really matter though. The chips and salsa are awesome. Some of the best I've had. Unfortunately that's the best part. Waited about twenty minutes to give a drink order. Another ten minutes to get the drinks. After another twenty minutes a young man who has no business working with the public comes to rudely take our order. We ordered the special, among others, which he had to ask us about. Yes, our server asked the customers what the restaurant's special was. I didn't see a nametag on this gentleman or I'd name him, but he was bad. It must have been over forty five minutes between ordering and getting the food, which would have probably not been that bad if the food was good. My twelve year old daughter can make better Mexican food. Everything tasted like it was leftover canned food. Hot plates with cold food indicates heavy microwave usage. Not an ounce of seasoning anywhere. The shredded beef burrito was literally just as much congealed beef as they could shove in to a tortilla and nothing else. I suppose at least the meat wasn't tough. That's the best thing I can say about it though. Again no seasoning, everything was just bland and barely luke warm. Five different diners ranging from ages 4-59 all had the same experience. Cold, bland food. Judging from the reviews, people in Payson just don't like food as apparently this is the best they have to offer. Maybe la Sierra is paying for some reviews or something, because this place...

The service at this restaurant was terrible!! On February 23rd, after a long day of freeing my parents from the snow storm that occurred. It took 15 minutes to have someone come and get our drink order, then it took another 15 to 20 minutes to get someone’s attention just to get our food order in. The guy who took our order acted like he could care less about our experience, as I watched him walk to other tables conversating and having a good time. He gets to us, no smiles, didn’t ask what side items we wanted with our food, and walked away. So we then proceeded to wait at least a half hour or more, while people who came in after us got their orders, ate and left. We get the little hostess attention, and she says we’ll have someone with and that they’re very busy. They were steady, not busy!! Finally my husband had enough and confronted the guy who took our order and that guy decided to be rude and said if we don’t want to wait we can pay for our drinks and leave. Not the right thing to say to a man who also work in the food business. That was an insult after waiting for so long for nothing. The manager came up to us saying he’s sorry and he’ll get us taken care of. I said nope! We’re outta here!! We did nothing wrong from the time we stepped in that place to the time we left. They need to learn what customer service is. We went to La Rancho and they were awesome! Go there instead if you want good Mexican food...