De La o Restaurant & Bar

Growing up as a gringa in a place where Taco Bell was as authentic as Mexican food got for many, many years, I was thrilled as a young adult living and working in Mendota when DeLao's moved in.  Even after having moved away, when I visit home, I still force the issue of stopping by, or bringing home some takeout.  Even this past Thanksgiving.  What, mom?  You've been slaving over roasting turkey, cornbread dressing, all the traditional staples?  Awesome, but, you know, I still hope I get a chance to get some steak tacos on corn tortillas, topped with avocado slices.  No disrespect intended, but that's just how it is.  DeLao's also makes their salsa and pico, and it is heavenly.  I go through so many chips, but they are really just vehicles for delivery of flavorful, spicy salsa.  The family that runs the place is oh-so-nice, too, which makes it even more awesome.

For a small town that has to cater to a mostly white population its pretty decent. If you go for a steak burrito get The Delao special which uses ribeye and puts the red or green sauce right into the burrito after cooking ribeye with it. Avoid the Chickn its very bland and there Al Pastor needs work too. I reccomend The ribeyes steak dinner in chile del arbol sauce(hottest thing on the menu) The Chorizo Enchiladas, and the shrimp tostados!  Is it as good as Mexican from Chicago or burbs? No but its the best you'll find in these parts of the sticks

What a great joint! Little grocery and the best Mexican food in town. I've even had some meat from their butcher counter that was just as nice as the big box grocer and a whale of a lot cheaper!

Rib Eye burritos are fantastic. Green Chili sauce is awesome. Stark decor, but come here to eat.....