Mi Azteca Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in South Riding

My family and I just had our first dining experience at Mi Azteca in South Riding and I’m happy to announce that it’s an INSTANT FAVORITE! Yes, I will be brutally frank. As a resident of South Riding, we’ve been craving good authentic Mexican food (no, Los Toltecos is NOT IT). I started off with a refreshing medium-sized mango margarita. Just the right mixture of ingredients in this adult beverage after a busy workday, it really hit the spot! 🍹 Cheers, indeed!

An indication to me of a good Mexican restaurant is their chips and salsa. Made in-house, the chips came out nice and warm and the salsa was fresh. For those of you who like spice like me, you can ask for spicier salsa that packs more of a punch! 👊🏻

The guacamole was yummy! The combination of flavors and texture danced in my mouth. The fresh avocados 🥑 were complemented nicely by the lime juice, onions, cilantro, and just the right amount of salt.

My wife enjoyed her chicken enchiladas. She said they were flavorful and seasoned perfectly. My birria tacos 🌮 were tasty and came with a generous serving of rice and refried beans. The taste sensations: dee-lish! (I’m craving my dish again as I write this review! Grrrrr!)

Curious about their dessert offerings, we ordered their churros and fried ice cream. It was a nice way to end our dinner — sweet & chocolatey, to wind down and cleanse the palate.

We have a new favorite in South Riding. You have to try Mi Azteca Mexican Restaurant ….. like ASAP. Tell them Tommy sent...

I would like to preface my review that I am a born and raised Southern Californian and have been spoiled with fantastic and plentiful Mexican cuisine.

The minute we were seated and given the menu, we clocked that this place may be cosplaying as Mexican. The only two options for tacos were chicken or beef. What about pork? And let’s be specific, how about carnitas? Carne Asada? Al pastor? Seafood options would have been a nice plus.

This place is NOT authentic Mexican cuisine. I would say the taco I ordered is on par with Del Taco or Taco Bell, but at least with either of those joints, there’s more flavor in the food.

Please view my photo of the taco to see how it went so wrong. We need to change the large, flour tortilla to smaller corn tortillas. Take out the lettuce and cheese, and switch it with onions and cilantro. Have at least salsa verde and salsa rojo to pair with. All that was given was the Tapatio that’s on every table.

My boyfriend got the pollo chipotle plate and was equally disappointed. His meal came with guacamole, which was severely lacking salt.

I would like to concede that the service was friendly and quick, and the atmosphere is cute. But since this is a restaurant claiming to serve Mexican cuisine, I have to be honest with my...

Mi Azteca exceeded my expectations in every way! We stopped in for dinner and ordered the fajitas, which were absolutely delicious — sizzling hot, perfectly seasoned, and served with fresh, flavorful sides. The portion was generous and easily sharable.

As someone with a gluten allergy, I’m always a little cautious when dining out, but the staff at Mi Azteca was incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating. They took my dietary needs seriously, double-checked ingredients, and made sure everything I received was safe to eat. It made me feel confident and cared for — something that’s not always guaranteed when eating out with food allergies.

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the service was attentive without being overbearing. From start to finish, it was a fantastic dining experience. I’m so grateful to have found a spot that not only serves amazing Mexican food, but also makes guests with dietary restrictions feel welcome and safe.

We’ll definitely be back....