As soon as I moved to Indianapolis from San Diego I started looking for a good Mexican restaurant. Lucky for me there was one right around the corner! Big portions, awesome food, and a decent vegetarian selection. You know it's gotta be good because even though it's surrounded by boarded up businesses, the lot is always full.
Review Source:the food is awesome, fresh and substancial. my boyfriend got the two quesadillas abd i got the two enchiladas California style, and both dishes were delicious and filling. the new location is much roomier and welcoming, though the service was a bit confusing.and slow. we hadn't been in the restaraunt si.ce it moved locations and.we waited around bewildered for a few minutes before being helped and seated. all i all the food is spectacular, depending what you get this is not just Americanized Mexican food, which is always refreshing, especially in Indiana.
Review Source:Hole in the wall that since has been upgraded and I am sure it has 100% to do with Yelpers like me. I was visiting Indy several months ago and found it on yelp, went and ate there. Small place, people barely spoke English. Several months later, I go back and almost had a panic because I thought they were gone! I come to realize they got the bigger spot on the other side of the lot and woop, there it is...bigger, badder and they know it! The place is very nicely done, a huge difference from their other place. Food is just darn good. Big portions, more quality and very filling. Price is norm.
Review Source:There is so much hype around La Parada, but I've never been very impressed. Luckily, their prices are so cheap that you don't leave feeling upset for a not-so-great meal! It could be that I've just ordered the wrong things, though, because everyone I know is fairly obsessed with this place.
Review Source:Good stuff. A hole-in-the-wall from appearances, but definitely a hidden gem that serves some of the most authentic Mexican food around.
One downside is that while their menu attaches a picture to every item, they don't attach a description, so be sure to ask your server what comes on each item if you can't tell from the picture and are trying something new.
Otherwise, it was quality, fresh, and relatively cheap. I would definitely recommend taking the trip to the east side and trying it out!
I was just recently at La Parada on Friday night 2/08/13. I did enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant. We did enjoy the chips and salsa, however, we could have gotten more chips to eat the rest of our salsa.. They did not refill our basket. I had 2 soft tacos and a beef tostadas.. The ground beef tasted bland, it has no seasoning. The ground beef was overcooked and was tough to chew. Also, I did not care for the soft taco shells.. Not a fan. My partner and I said that we will give this restaurant a second chance...
Review Source:A hole in the wall that offers authentic Mexican food.
How does El Chino know the food is authentic? Many of the other patrons were Mexican or some kind of Latin American - I forgot my made-in-Arizona undocumented alien classification device at home so I didn't know for sure.
The waitstaff also barely spoke English and we had to use some hand gestures. This is a plus and adds to the experience, unlike the Casper-the-friendly-ghost-like suburban gringo servers you get at places like Abuelo's whose primary goal is to make you forget that you're in a "Mexican" restaurant.
I got the carnitas, which was great. The portions are generous and the various sauces, salsa, etc. are tasty. I highly recommend it.
I heart this place. Coming from LA, the Mexican food I've found in Indy has been bland and nasty. Then I found La Parada. This place is like going home. Real Mexican food, not Mexican-American midwest crap. So much flavor. So much goodness. Very friendly staff. Do your tastebuds a favor and eat here.
Review Source:I'm astonished that I haven't reviewed La Parada before. Â I often stop by on my drive home from work. Â The portions are massive, and their salsa is fantastic. Â (Whenever I am going to a party I will stop by and purchase some chips and salsa to bring along. It is always a big hit.) Â They have just moved to new premises, in the strip mall right behind the old one. Â The new locale gives them much more room to handle the lunch rush. Â
The only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is that they no longer serve beer. Â I'm hoping they are in the process of applying for a new liquor license for the new location.
Love this place, this is real authentic Mexican food. Everything that we have eaten there has been delicious, although I do usually order the spicy pork tacos every time. Simple, but amazingly good. We have ordered the "Got Soup" otherwise known as Goat Soup. It is really good. Some of their stuff is a little different, but I guarantee whatever you try it will be delicious. They give you complimentary chips and salsas. That is right, I said salsas. The green jalapeno one is really good, not that spicy but very tasty. The only one I do not care for is the smoky red one.
Trust me, go here and you will not be disappointed.
I think I am just not doing this place right. Â I wanted to give this a three star rating but my opinion after two visits is just "meh" when I want it to be "A-ok" or better. Â After both visits (both carry-out, maybe this is part of the problem?) I've taken to reading other's reviews and thinking "Are we really talking about the same place?"
And the thing is, I loooove Mexican food.  It's a need that I have deep within me to be sated as much as possible. And this place is right by my new apartment. I came from  the West side where there were almost (almost) too many delicious options within arms reach, but now La Parada is the closest Mexican joint to me.  The first meal I had was literally so forgettable that I can't tell you what it was. And I blamed myself.  I thought I just didn't order the right thing.  So I went back.  I got a burrito suiza al pastor which also was a huge disappointment.  The pork was chewy, like Double Bubble chewy, and the "Suiza" sauce was really just white cheese dip.  Thanks, but no thanks.
I want to try it one more time and dine in. Â I really want to be wrong about this place. Â I noticed after I ordered last time that they offer an authentic, freshly made version of the Taco Bell crunch wrap that looked like an absolute dream, and its on my radar. Â I also want to try a regular, plain old burrito with a meat that isn't pork flavored bubble gum.
I have been going to La Parada for two years and was recently excited to see that they were moving into a bigger space just behind the original location. Â Well we checked it out earlier this week and the new space is so much bigger and nicer than the original. Â Intricate booths, chairs, and paintings. Â Very clean inside with nice bathrooms. Â And the same friendly service with great mexican food.
Review Source:My sister has been raving about La Parada for the last week and well, you don't have to pull on my arm to hard to get me to dive head first into a pile of chips and salsa. Unfortunately, I believe every time I walk out the doors of a Mexican restaurant, they shake their heads and regret offering complimentary chips and salsa with the way I put 'em down. It's almost as if there is a silent competition between the waiter(ress) to see who can clean out or refill the chips first. Â La Parada's salsa is amazing, so tonight was no exception.
As of today, they moved from their old location -approximately 100 yards away - to a new bright and shiny spot in a strip mall. Loved the vibrant orange walls and colorful tables, booth and art. If you're looking to branch out from the burritos and tacos, their menu has an image of each option which comes in quite handy for the visual crowd.
Other highlights:
-horchata (yes, please)
-exceptional refreshing salsa (reminded me a bit of gazpacho/cucumber-ish)
-diverse menu
Rumor has it, they have $5 margaritas (noted for next visit).
No review can do this place justice. It's simply my all-time favorite Mexican restaurant. If you're reading this review and have never been, just go. Get in your car now. This is one of those places where I'm tortured by how many good options there are. My go-to is a spicy pork chimichanga, but my friends have gotten gorditas, tacos, and quesadillas that look incredible. You can actually see the avocado, red onion, etc. that's been hand-cut and rolled up in your burrito. For as little as they charge, their craftsmanship on this stuff is insane. I can see them lovingly drop that big beautiful burrito into the fryer as it blossoms into a golden chimi. and that cheese sauce on top... too good.
Get your friends together and take them here. They'll be impressed with your ability to sniff out cheap, insanely delicious mexican food that they never knew existed. Seating is a little tight but they're expanding into the building behind them.
I am really upset that this place is right down the street from my house. I like to cook, but with delicious tacos cheap and just steps away I don't see it ever happening again.
They have tasty combo meals (the usual...two enchiladas, burrito, tamale, rice and beans) that are eye-crossingly good, but for me it's all about the tacos. These babies are tied up with Revolucion for taste and they're 1/4 of the price. Mmmm.
Four stars because although everything is delicious, the chicken is a little weird sometimes - not the strings of flavorful juicy chicken you're expecting, more boiled in little pieces. I still do work on the enchiladas de mole though.
Oh, and it kind of looked like they were moving into the larger storefront in the same shopping center last time I went. I always do takeout though, so don't quote me on that.
Delicious! It doesn't look like much and I'm sure most people don't try it because it has that hole in the wall vibe thing going on but it's seriously great Mexican food. Don't judge a book by its cover. I love their cheese dip! Just the right amount of spicy. It was really hot inside (when it was freezing outside) but totally worth it. And you can just get it to go if you aren't down with eating in a sauna. :)
Review Source:La Parada is truly a diamond in the rough. Â It's humble exterior may cause a bit of trepidation, but once you step in the door, you will be immediately sold. Â The menu is easy to understand because each of the dishes has a picture next to it. Â The prices are fantastic. Â For $3.50, you can get a big ol' Gordita that is more than enough for the average lunch. Â The ingredients are fresh and tasty, the avocado was sliced and delicately placed in my gordita, and the rice was delightful. Â La Parada offers a wide array of meat choices (ground beef, chicken, steak, pork, choriso, goat, tongue, shrimp, etc , allowing you to incorporate multiple animal types into your meal (always a plus). Â I've been told that even the shrimp is good (a true testimony to the quality of this establishment's kitchen).
Waitstaff are friendly, and the atmosphere is perfect. Â When you walk in the door, you are greeted by approximately 15 security cameras (why? I have no idea) Â and an interesting poster of a man posing seductively on train tracks in a viking outfit that reads "Katie, I will miss you, XOXO". Â The poster is signed by the man self identifies as "The Viking" or something like that. Â I am certain that there is some sort of backstory... but i don't yet understand it. Â Spanish soap operas are also playing on the TVs, which is always fun.
Long story short, I will no longer be frequenting Qdoba nearly as much, because this place is just better quality mexican food at a cheaper price. Â Apparently they are moving to an adjacent building soon, but no matter... I will continue to make this my number 1 spot for mexican cuisine.
First let me start by saying the food is delicious. Â This is exactly what i want from a local Mexican dive. Â The portions are large and it's extremely affordable. Â You can easily get full for under $10, with some full meal choices being as low as $4.
The restaurant itself is incredibly small and on busy nights you might have to wait a bit to find a seat. Â My last visit was on a Tuesday and they had 2 booths open when we arrived, so Fridays and Saturdays can be crowded. Â But again, the food is definitely worth the wait.
Outside of the small size of the restaurant, the only drawback was the service. Â They weren't very busy on our most recent visit but our server only came by 3 times. Â Once to take our order, once to bring us our food, and finally to give us our checks. Â This honestly wasn't as bad as it sounds, as we received refills when our food was brought out to us.
Honestly if this place was a little bigger and the service was a little more attentive, this place would be 5 stars in my book. Â The combination of low prices, large portions, Â and high quality food make it a nice choice on nights where you don't want to spend a lot of money.
Came here because of the reviews and was not disappointed! The red and green sauce are amazing as is the salsa with the chips. Â I loved the shredded beef enchilada with verde sauce. Â The spicy pork taco was authentic and had a great tortillas, but I wouldn't order it with the pork again because it was chunks of pork with quite a bit of fat instead of the slow-cooked shredded pork I had been expecting. Â I want to go back and try the chicken and maybe enchiladas with mole sauce.
Review Source:GET A GORDITA. Try it with the carnitas. I love the price i love the quality of food. i love that it's a whole in the wall place that looks a little seedy. i guess you really need to be in the right frame of mind. In anycase the price is right and I love it.
Do be aware that sometimes it gets a little busy and they tend to be a little slower. Call ahead and order for take out is always a good option.
La Parada has been my mexican food joint for 5 or 6 years now, and I love it just as much now as the first time. This is not gourmet food, nor is it particularly unique, but it is a consistent, friendly, darn tasty place. And cheap. One could definitely get by on a sope (one of my favorites) and a taco or two, which would be about $5-7. The "spicy pork" (al pastor), carnitas and chorizo are my favorite meat options. A Negro Modelo can be had for a very reasonable price, too.
It's just a simple, fun place where you can always get cheap, honest, tasty food. Gets busy sometimes (it's tiny), and parking could get a little strange (but there's a big, empty lot behind).
This is by far one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city. Â Don't be daunted by the large menu. Â Usually, a large menu means most dishes are mediocre. Â I have taken a tour of the menu here and everything has been excellent. Â Try the street food style elotes for an appetizer! Â The gorditas (true gordita, not the taco bell mess) are amazing and so are the sopes. Â There is an excellent selection of different meat options for your tacos/sopes/gorditas. Â Al Pastor (pork marinated for multiple days), Asada & Lengua (beef toungue - seriously, try it) are all top notch. Â Their shrimp ceviche is killer too. Â You can't go wrong.
Review Source:For under $10 buckaroonies, I ate three meals. Whaaaat? I know, right? But it's true, it's totally true. I went here because all of my friends are on about it all the time. It would be nearly cultish if my friends weren't awesome people that aren't into cults. I'd say that my friend base is definitely part of their customer base.
I ordered a meal, right? And it was 7.50. It was like a taco, a tamale, and some other kind of taco. Then it had rice and beans. I also ordered some elote. Dear god, man. What is it about grilled corn that is so over-the-top amazeballs? AMAZEBALLS! I pounded the hell out of that corn. But after the chips and salsa (delicious) that come with the meal and the ear of corn, I was spent. I rolled out and went home, homey. The next day, I ate one of the tacos for breakfast along with the beans. For lunch, the other taco, tamale, and rice. It's a lot of food. If your'e really hungry, I'm sure you could totally pound it. If you're pretty hungry, you can end up with two meals that are insanely delicious for a low one time investment that you'll tell yourself is a one time investment but really isn't because you'll keep going back.
OH MAN! Did you know their horchata is good as hell, too? No? Oh, well it is, so go have some.
At the end of the meal I was marveling over my elote. Slathered in butter, lime chili powder and cheese, it was everything honey boo boo child could dream about. I felt a little odd about eating what I'm sure must have been a few tablespoons of butter slathered on a food shoved on a stick. It just felt so...dirty inside. Dirty and delicious. But as I was at the register, waiting to pay, I read the menu a little more closely. That delicious butter all over my elote was actually mayonnaise. I ate ~ 3 TBSPS of mayonnaise in one sitting. On purpose. I paid them to let me eat their mayonnaise. And you know what? I would do it again. You know who else should do it? You. Unless you're allergic to eggs or oil. Then you shouldn't eat any mayonnaise at all. But if you're going to eat mayonnaise or going to eat corn, go here and get the elote, jabroni. You won't regret it.
BONUS: link to honey boo boo child. Context, kids. It's all about context. <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DABzMAuI1vj0&s=83ea73bd57bfc8983489123e984dd10377cea885d2673595906f81e8995cd8fa" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/w…</a>
YOU ARE SO WELCOME!
Why do I not have more than one stomach? I always find myself taking food home (not a bad thing). Had the Michelada today with Corona per our wait staff's suggestion, and *really* enjoyed it. Â I can see this becoming a brunch staple.
This was our first dinner at La Parada (we're typically lunch customers), and the service was very attentive. Â ...and I still love the tacos de lengua.
A few friends of mine have been calling this the best Mexican restaurant around, I was a bit skeptical but excited. It blew me away, It not only lived to their boosts  but went far beyond. The waiting staff was courteous and helpful and the food was amazing. Before we were through we had our table covered in various dishes in gluttonous mock of a feast. simple to say we enjoyed ourselves.
Review Source:This place is FANTASTIC! Â We went to La Parada on Friday night for the first time not really knowing what to expect. Â We stepped inside to see that all the tables were full but luckily, there was no one else waiting. Â We were seated in about 10 minutes. I'm not sure how crowded this place gets or if it's still somewhat of a hidden gem but I promise that it's worth the wait.
The staff was super friendly. Our waitress explained things to us on the menu that we didn't understand. Â Chips and salsa were brought to the the table and devoured quite quickly and she brought another basket without hesitation. Â There was nothing super special about the chips and salsa but they were still good.
The worst thing about this restaurant is that there were so many things on the menu that I wanted to try and I couldn't decide what to order! Two people ordered the shredded chicken burrito, and two people (including myself) ordered the two tacos and a tostada. Â I ate everything on my plate! Â The tacos were soft tacos on corn tortillas (which I prefer over flour) and the tostada was piled high. Â It was served with rice and refried beans. Â I added a little bit of hot sauce (because I love a good kick) and enjoyed the entire meal. Â The boys got burritos and agreed that their food was delicious as well. Â
This place is definitely off the beaten path but it is so good and worth trying!!
I'm torn here. It's really a very cute place. It has a casual family feel about it. It'd definitely cozy.
The food seems closer to authentic than all those carbon copy chain restaurants. The salsa was quite good and the chips were tasty, if a bit on the heavy side.
It may be a cultural thing, or just something particular to this restaurant, but the service leaves you alone for the most part. This could be taken positively or negatively depending on your viewpoint. Attentiveness could be perceived as annoying to some. If you need something, just get their attention and they are quick to help.
They have quite a number of veggie options on the menu. I spent some time with the waitress to determine if veggie meant vegetarian and at the end of it, I'm not entirely sure she understood my questions. Â That didn't inspire a lot of confidence. The veggie options turned out to just be refried beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese and rice. It sounded like she said they didn't have black beans as an option.
The food was simple and fresh which is what I like. Still, I'm sticking with the 3 star.
I agree that the servers may only visit a few times, but I've never wanted for anything while dining at La Parada. Besides, the restaurant is tiny (only about 10 tables or less.) If you can't get you server's attention for a refill or whatever, then they are probably just ignoring you.
But like I said, I've never had problem while dining here. I've lived in Indiana my entire life and have never traveled south of the border, but from what I've been told, La Parada is the real deal when it comes to authenticity. The only time I wasn't satisfied with this restaurant is when I ordered something that wasn't authentic.
While there is a bit of a language barrier, I've always received exactly what I've ordered. The only bummer is I always crave a margarita when I'm here, but no such luck. An ice cold Mexican Coke is a decent replacement, however.
This place is fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.
I had heard about it from a couple friends who just said "I like it" and not much else about it. I just figured it was standard border food like most Mexican joints around here, which I like, but rarely does one truly stand out. I just wrote it off and figured I'd try it eventually when in the neighborhood.
Ok, fast forward a bit. I took a trip to Chicago with a buddy from Pilsen (a large, predominantly Latino neighborhood on the south side). He brought us to this little Mexican place and it was amazing. Real cantina style tacos, every meat you could thing of from basic ground beef to chorizo to tripe! I was just wishing that Indy had that kind of place. Simply the best Mexican I'd had.
After that trip I was on a bit of a quest to find something similar in Indy. No frills, small, crappy neighborhood, lame decor, but AMAZING, authentic food. That's La Parada.
The location is sketchy, it's very small inside, sometimes the owners' children will run by and drive their hotwheels car along the edge of your table, the Mexican soap operas are on the tiny blurry televisions, but the food is simply incredible.
I've been a few times now and have gotten the 2 tacos/1 tamale combo each time. I just keep trying different meats because they have a ton and they're all great.
They do tacos cantina style with two soft corn tortillas, a big pile o meat, onions, cilantro, and a lime wedge. Perfect perfect perfect. They actually make crunch wraps like they used to have at Taco Bell, only a million times better.
They just have all kinds of stuff and it's all really really good. I love it.
If you're looking to drive your Audi to a 5 star restaurant, and have the head chef put your diamond engagement ring in the Champagne flute, skip it. If you're looking to throw on a t shirt, hop in your Civic, and go fill your belly with the best, most authentic Mexican food in Marion County, and for a reasonable price, this is the place for you.
This is definitely the best Mexican food I have found in Indianapolis, and it is affordable to boot!
The waitresses are attentive despite typically being busy caring for a packed dining room, and the menu has something for everyone. Chips and salsa are de rigueur at any Mexican restaurant I have been, and these are some of the best I have had. Â I have eaten here several times, and have yet to be disappointed with the food.
The one star demotion I must give was for a rather awful carry out experience where an entire dish was forgotten, but charged for. The wait took forever, and by the time I returned home the other dishes were cold. I was trying to show the place off to some first timers, and I don't think they have ever tried La Parada again. I came back, but never for carry out.
Sweet baby Jesús, I love me some La Parada.
I'll save you the time of reading this entire review: BEST MEXICAN IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Now, if you want to hear me ramble about La Parada, be my guest!
I first tried this fine eating establishment about a year or so ago, and it was love at first smell.  The small, quaintness of the place, the aroma of sizzling mexican delicacies, the fact that you had to sometimes kick the owners kids out of your booth before you ate, were all little nuances that made this place great.  I loved La Parada before she said, "Hello," but the icing on the cake came one afternoon when I saw a hand-written sign advertising a special entrée called, "The Crunch Wrap."
As I wondered what this menu item that sounded more like a WWE Signature Move tasted like, I saw the price and figured it was worth the try. I ordered "The Crunch Wrap," and out came this concoction that was the Hulk version of the Taco Bell "Crunch Wrap Supreme." Honestly, you know how David Banner looks before he becomes the Hulk? Well, the Crunch Wrap is the Hulk. Â It is a taco shell stuffed to the max with your choice of meat, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, beans and rice. It is the Smackdown! of tortilla-wiches.
I was so impressed with TCW that I literally told every one that I knew about it. Â For less than $5 this tortilla-wich is the best deal on the menu. Â But TCW isn't the only great thing about this place. Â They have excellent fish tacos, tamales, quesadillas, etc., if you're really feeling adventurous, order some chorizo dip to complement your nachos. Â Your life will never be the same!
If you smelllllllllllllllll what D-Rock is cookin (get it?), you will try La Parada ASAP!
After hearing rave reviews for this place from several friends, I was excited to finally experience La Parada last week after a long and grueling workout.
The server was very attentive.... at first. After she got out drinks and our food orders, she kind of disappeared. I love spicy food, so of course, I literally poured hot sauce all over my Shrimp Tacos. It would have been great to get even one measly refill on my water, so I could wash down the hot.
The food was delicious and the prices were very affordable. Despite my utter hatred for cilantro, which of course, was piled sky high on top of my tacos, I loved my meal. I scarfed them down anyway, and was pleased with the portion as I was full, but not so full where I wanted to literally die.
My friend had to ask several times for things that should have come with her meal, but alas, they weren't brought to her. She finished her drink before me, and I was feeling a bit sorry for her, as she took each bite of her spicy food. Taste buds should not be neglected in these situations.
I will probably come back, because of the food, but I will mostly definitely order it to go, because that was the absolute worst service I've ever received, and I have several years of serving experience, which means I'm usually very forgiving when it comes to that sort of thing.
My bf and I ordered two tacos and 1 Tamale; hamburger and fries (I know right, who orders burger in a Mexican restaurant; well that's me!)
Pros:
1. It's open Sunday night
2. Lots of choices with pictures
3. Friendly staffs
4. Cheap and portions are huge
5. Free tortilla chips when you're seated
6. The fries is amazingly good
7. Pork tamale is yummy
8. The restroom is clean
Cons:
1. we had better tacos (from the Tamale Place)
2. The side of rice that comes with it is rather plain (maybe that's the way it should be?)
3. The hamburger is okay (what do you expect?)
4. Some portholes on the parking lot.
5. Not the best neighborhood
Conclusion: I will be back to try out the other dishes on menu
4.5 stars, so I rounded up.
It's probably safe to say that the majority of people would never step foot into this place without the help of Yelp (myself included). Â It's not in the best location nor does it have much curb appeal. Â What it lacks there it more than makes up for with a huge, flavorful menu and friendly staff. Â
I have been on two occasions, and I have had the goat soup (Birria) on both of those occasions. Â The broth is delicious and the goat meat is tender and succulent. Â It's served with raw onions, cilantro, limes, and corn tortillas for dipping, Â I don't really use any of that stuff - just eat the goat and soup. Â A must try. Â I also got the spicy pork tacos the last time, and the portion sizes - whoa! Â The tacos seemed to be the most authentic mexican tacos I've ever eaten. Â (I've never had a taco in Mexico, so this is me assuming.) Â The 0.5 star gets removed because they weren't at all spicy- very flavorful, but no spice. Â Maybe if I ask next time they can amp up the heat. Â The waitresses and most likely owners/family members are extremely polite and attentive. They have no problem at all making any modifications to the food. Â The space itself is very small but not uncomfortable.
I'd go as far to say best Mexican in Indy. Â Definitely give it a try!