I was intrigued by a restaurant that served both Indian and Mexican food after John Manzo posted about La Casita Mexicana on Chowhound. I was further convinced to try it when Dealfind posted a coupon for the restaurant.
La Casita Mexicana has been halved out of an Indian restaurant called Wicked Chili on 17th Avenue SW (next to Bob the Fish). So when you walk in, go left for Mexican and right for Indian. The Mexican dining room is bright orange and dominated by a mural of an Aztec warrior carrying a topless woman. H was quite enchanted and couldn’t stop staring at it from his Bumbo chair.
We went hoping to try the $12.99 lunch buffet that John had raved about. However, we took one look at the sad steam trays with sad pieces of beef, sad crusty sauces, and sad dry chicken — and decided to order off the two-page lunch menu instead.
As a starter, the chorizo con queso ($10) was OK but it lacked a punch even with large pieces of jalapeno. It came with only two corn tortillas.
Jason’s enchiladas suizas ($15.50) had the best flavour from a bright tomatillo salsa verde over three corn tortillas folded over cheese.
My tacos pastor ($14.50) had decent marinated pork slices with pineapple bits, served traditionally on open corn tortillas. They brought a separate plate of diced onions, cilantro and red and green salsa so I could top the tacos however I wished.
Everything was OK but we kept wishing there was more heat/spice.
I had a horchata (a sweet rice drink) which tasted like it was made from powder, but I didn’t mind since I was thirsty.
I have to mention the service which began with a middle-aged Indian man (manager?). He didn’t seem familiar with the Mexican menu and hovered way too much. A Mexican lady took over from him in the middle of our meal. She was much more pleasant and seemed more knowledgeable about what we were eating.
As much as I really wanted to like this experiment, there are better places to go in Calgary for Mexican food.
La Casita Mexicana, 507 17th Ave. S.W., Calgary, (403) 870-7070. Closed Monday & Sunday. Open Tuesday to Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11-2 a.m.
As the name of my blog suggests, I will pretty much eat anything.
I’m partial to meats but will suffer fruits and vegetables.
I dedicate this to people who love to eat, and find art in their meals. If this blog piques your interest at least once, then I’m happy as a goldfish that eats til it explodes. 
I’ve yet to find a Mexican place in Calgary that is as good as the food in Southern California. I’m not sure if it is the lack of fresh ingredients, lack of talent or an adjustment to the locals’ tastes.
Also, it really is a hit and miss with other blogger’s opinions – I find a lot of his recommendations are underwhelming, too.
Mr Burns, it’s a lack of Mexicans, full stop. That’s also it’s so hard, compared to Toronto or any of Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver, to find many decent Indian choices in the US outside of very select cities. We have more than ten times the east Indian population, per capita, in Canada. The US has many, many, many millions more Mexicans than we do. Simple math.
If you want the most amazing tacos you’ve ever had in your life, check out Eastern Washington. Walla Walla and Pasco have every bit as much quality as does LA and you’re not risking your life at a Walla Walla taqueria.
I had a terrible dining experience here, and will never return. The service was awful and the food was the worst Mexican food I’ve ever had. I’m certain my mole came from a can, and my dish was microwaved. My friends ordered traditional enchiladas, with red sauce, but they were more like two tacos folded in half, not rolled, with a dab of ranchero sauce, definitely not baked. We were a group of 12, but had made a reservation one week in advance for 20. Still our food took over 90 minutes and came out at different times, they kept trying to excuse the slow service by saying they only had one kitchen for two restaurants.
My favorite Mexican restaurant is definitely Mi Tierra or Tu Tierra. I’d say they’re the most authentic of the Mexican restaurants I’ve eaten at in Calgary and they make a great mole sauce.
We have new chef and new menu, way better than last time. pl. come by again and support us again. Name of the Chef: Alejandra (all the way from Mexico)
I have never had food this bad anywhere else! The rice and beans, I am sure, were from a can. The quesadillas were bland and so were the enchiladas. The waitress was an older overweight woman with a very tight dress and showing lots of cleavage. My family and I found it in very poor taste! The music was Bachata, original from the Dominican Republic, and it played the same 4-5 songs over and over. The strawberry margarita had no alcohol at all, my wife compared it to a Slurpee from seven eleven. Anyway, I am embarrassed as a Mexican because this restaurant is giving us a bad bad image. Please believe me that real Mexican food does not taste like dog food! I will never ever go there again!
from urbanspoon i don’t know how it is possible for this place to even get 40% likes
it is the worst restaurant i had been to in Calgary
while i was there
the place was dead and smells
cutlery was dirty
the owner was using his laptop facing us
the food was NOT presentable NOR tasteful
he kept coming to me and asked if the food was good
i was being nice and said it is ok in the beginning
he didn’t stop asking until i had to say it is total crap!!!
BE WARN!!! DON’T GET SUCK IN ON BUYING THE DEALFIND DEAL FROM THIS COMPANY!!!
The food is of low quality, utilizing poor quality meat and pre-packaged side dished. The service is bizzare to say the least and is riddled with confusion, lack of knowledge, and neglect. Save your money and avoid this place. The owners of this place should apologize to all Mexicans for this insult to their culture!
I bought a deal for La Casita Mexicana and when I made a reservation and went there, about 2 months ago, they told me that I couldn’t use the deal because they changed the owner and the name of the restaurant (now Mexico Lindo). I don’t recommend this place at all!!