La Palapa Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in West Valley City

I worked for this restaurant when I was a teenager, which was 10 years ago and it was a great job with great food. What made it great was the quality of food. Everything was made from scratch. I would know, I helped prep it. This was the now closed location in 5400 s and 4000 w. Our management always had high standards for everything from cleanliness to well prepared, quality food. Now and then I stop by and it pains me to see the opposite of the experience I had. Quality is no longer there. Cleanliness is awful. Today I purchased my favorite torta cubana and wanted to treat myself to some fresas con crema and the young man who took my order had his hands on his jacket, took my payment, and then without washing his hands prepared my fresas con crema. As I saw my torta being prepared, the food preparation table was not clean, and by the looks of the rest of the kitchen, it did not look well kept. Friday’s can be busy. I would know. But this particular evening it was not. Other employees were not wearing a hair net or paper hat, which we were always required to wear. Employees could be seen on their phones, and sitting around not maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen area. Again, my experience was completely the opposite as an employee. We were to remain professional even when we were not serving people. I don’t expect it to change, especially knowing the family. Their business quality...

First time customer, not returning.

I'll get the good first, I ordered beef and chicken tacos, 4 of one, 3 of another. Portions, were amazing, I had six chicken tacos and 8 beef tacos. Really made my day right there. Delivery driver was awesome as well.

Now for the story:

Once my meal arrived, it looked a little messy and like it had just been prepped and tossed into the box and sent on it's way like you would send your 18 year old kid had they not gotten a job after school.

The meat in both my chicken and beef tacos, and both burritos, that were ordered with them, were dryer than the sands of mars.

The chicken quesadilla, that was also part of the order, was so greasy, you definately could have given birth to a whale with ease. Food slides in and like a perv in your DM's, slides right on out. Also the portion size of chicken, beans and rice per this meal, wouldnt sustain an Ethiopian child.

Cant say I would recommend the place myself, due to these facts, also it doesn't help that within 15 minutes of eating it, my gut has rotted like the flesh of a thousand camels on a hot day.

Other than all that,...

I would not recommend this place to anyone. Went there and was appalled at some of the things I saw. The service was horrendous, we would have to ask for things multiple times. When arriving there I was going to order fruit, but saw the employee cutting, and placing the fruit in the cups with no gloves. The burrito with the shrimp is delicious which is why I am giving it two stars. The services was not however, and it seemed like the employees were not thrilled to be there.

Update First of all the person who was cutting food was a guy not a girl like you stated. They did in fact use the register, as the original cashier was busy with another customer. I am not sure if they went back to the fruit after the fact. I do agree that I can be proactive in the future when I see something unsanitary, but don't expect that to not come with a negative review. Reviews are what the customer experienced, and even bringing up the gloves would not have helped much with the experience. I suggest to the owner who relied that they can also be proactive, and fix all the unsanitary issues people are...