Lupita's in Arlington: A Personal Paradigm Shift

[redglittercoffin]

So -- it's a ____day evening and the thought of cooking at home after 10 hours of work just doesn't sit well with you.  What do you and your significant other decide to do for dinner?  You don't want to spend too much, but you want to get enough food to feel satisfied.  Of course, La Nopalera!

Not any more my friends.

Note, I have spent the equivalent of a small country's GDP at La Nop over the years.  They have treated me well, and I am sure I will continue to eat there again.  However, as far as the BEST mexican in Jacksonville is concerned, it's Lupita's in Arlington.  In case you aren't familiar, Lupita's is a tiny restaurant north of the the Arlington Expy across the street from the old Winn-Dixie.

I ate there last night for the first time with my significant other (she who controls me).  I had Pollo Ranchero and she had a combination platter with a relleno, taco, beans, and something else (I forget).  Wow.

My Pollo Ranchero was actually seasoned.  It had a great flavor, was tender and juicy, and not beaten to a paper-thin version of it's former self.  It was topped with some nacho cheese, sauteed onions and mushrooms, and served with lettuce, guac, sour cream, beans and rice.  Oh -- and my choice of corn or flour tortillas -- I opted for corn.  Aside from the chicken, the guac was fresh.  It actually tasted like avocado -- I know...crazy.  The beans weren't the consistency of vomit -- they actually had substance to them.  They were thick and even a little bit chunky -- like beans that had actually been handmade.  The rice was nothing special, but certainly not bad.  The corn tortillas topped it all off though.  Corn tortillas -- to me -- usually have a gritty and brittle texture to them.  These were soft and chewy, warm, nicely charred.  They probably weren't hand made, but I'll be damned if they didn't taste like them.

My significant other had a chili relleno that was the size of her face.  In previous experience with mexican restaurants, the relleno was an afterthought that was hidden underneath the watery beans.  At Lupita's it becomes the center of attention on the plate.  The chili was distinctly flavorful, nicely breaded, and a bit greasy -- which I actually like.  I had a few bites.  Great stuff.  While I didn't get a bite of the taco, my significant other informed me that it was even better than the relleno -- beef that was seasoned nicely -- great flavor and texture and a hard shell that actually tasted like corn. 

I beg of you all to please give this place a try.  I spoke briefly with the owners and they said that business has been slow and have considered closing a few times.  Obviously, their location doesn't help them, but I told them that my meal was spectacular and that I would do my personal best to try to give them as much of my money as possible.  The owners were splendid folks who really care about the food they present. 

I urge you -- break the chains that bind you to one mexican restaurant.  Check out Lupita's.

[coredumped]

We actually pulled in to the parking lot a few weeks ago, yet once we got a closer view of Lupita's decided to go back to old reliable - la nop.
I might give this a try, but I know their appearance doesn't help them (not that la nop is "classy").

[Charles Hunter]

coredumped - have you been to the LaNop on Hendricks?  glad the food is good, because the place is a dump!

[coredumped]

We frequent the one on Atlantic BLVD near regency - again, nothing fancy, but if you go late (9ish) on any night you'll see them cleaning the whole kitchen, top to bottom.

[coredumped]

Actually, according to their most recent inspection, both had critical violations:

Lupitas:
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/inspectionDetail.asp?InspVisitID=3669272&id=3557351

La Nopalera (regency):
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/inspectionDetail.asp?InspVisitID=3654578&id=2175533

Though lupitas had more, and a repeat violation :/
I'll still give them a shot:)

[redglittercoffin]

Granted, I have a stomach of iron, but I typically don't worry too much about the violations -- of course at my own peril. 

That said, some of the best places I have ever eaten have been the worst food inspection violators.

[RockStar]

La Nop is La Crap. Sorry. It's mexican food for gringos who don't know any better. And yet I still eat there. What can I say, I'm a masochist.

Here's a hint: if your taco comes in a hard corn shell ala Taco Bell it is NOT authentic Mexican.

What's next? Comparing the quality of Italian food between Olive Garden, Carrabbas and Maggiano's?

Haven't tried Lupita's...maybe it's real. Maybe it's real dangerous! (see offending health inspections) LOL.

[Miss Fixit]

Rockstar you are so right - La Nopalera is truly TERRIBLE mexican.  Yuck.  I haven't been to Lupita's, but Pepe's Hacienda off of St. Augustine Road near Dupont is pretty awesome.  Doubled up corn tortillas and lots of cilantro and onion with the tacos, which include pork and tongue as well as steak and chicken.  Excellent guacomole and wide variety of cheap cold beer.

[Burn to Shine]

Food is great.  The only drawback is that they do not serve margaritas.  I know right?  I found that a little odd but I loved the food.  The grilled chicken is way better than La Nop.  La Nop's grilled chicken tastes more like it's boiled to me.  Anyways, yeah go to Lupita's and try it.  Get a taco for sure. 

Edited upon reading Rockstar's comment to say the taco does come in a shell - and personally I like it that way - but it does taste 1000 x more authentic than Taco Bell - and hell I like that too.  What can I say?  Masochism all around! 

[Dog Walker]

Rockstar, +1!  We've all gotten used to second-rate Tex/Mex.  Once exposed to "real" Mexican food with its bright, fresh flavors is to be forever spoiled.

[5pointy]

Was the relleno at Lupita's made with a poblano pepper (as it should be), or a gringo-bell pepper?  If you see the menu describe a "chile relleno" as made with a BELL pepper (hint to the Nop, no chile there!), you gotta know that the rest of the meal will be mediocre too.

[Burn to Shine]

Was the relleno at Lupita's made with a poblano pepper (as it should be), or a gringo-bell pepper?  If you see the menu describe a "chile relleno" as made with a BELL pepper (hint to the Nop, no chile there!), you gotta know that the rest of the meal will be mediocre too.

Definitely not a bell pepper.  Totally yummy!

[5ptscurmudgeon]

I haven't been to Lupita's, but Pepe's Hacienda off of St. Augustine Road near Dupont is pretty awesome.

ditto that Miss Fixit. Lupita's is on my hitlist next time Regency bound. However if headed any where south of downtown Pepe's is a must if you have actually been out of this town to taste real Mexican food.

A few facts...

the second of @ 15 locations around Florida run by a son of a man who has 30 locations in Chicago.

They are also grocery + produce store, meat market, tortilla factory, bakery and package store. (Staggering Corona delivery witnessed last week.) Want a cool pair of boots, hat or a pinata? I think I even saw an accordion. The smell of hot tortilla's wafting up from the coolers by the check out counter. Mmmmm...

The place is always spotless everywhere, even the woman's according to GF and daughters.

Waitresses and kitchen couldn't be any more cheerful or efficient even when the place is packed. The little ones are allergic to everything and they prove that food allergies are bilingual and understood. Muchos Gracias!

The food is... well, either you get it or you don't and will continue to enjoy the ragu served with the chips at la nop. The prices are affordable by any. I don't think there is a +$10 item and keep your eyes out for the Mint Mag. with 1/2 price coupons.

Warning: If you are a bigoted, racist, inbred redneck or resemble one, this is not the place for you. At la nop you will notice plenty of our Mexican brethren working hard waiting on you but do you ever see a tabletop eating? Nope, lots of white folk though. At Pepe's you can guarantee you will most often be the only gringo there enjoying the pure culinary joy as Mexican grandmothers and even Rick Bayless preach.

[JaxByDefault]

Rockstar, +1!  We've all gotten used to second-rate Tex/Mex.  Once exposed to "real" Mexican food with its bright, fresh flavors is to be forever spoiled.

Real Tex/Mex --as it is (too rarely) found in the border regions and has developed over generations -- is amazing. What schlocky chain restaurants try to pass off as Tex/Mex is disgusting.

There is no excuse for what La Nop (called "La Slop" in our house) serves as it is neither traditional Mexican (in any of its 1,000 regional variations) nor Tex/Mex. It is simply terrible.

I understand I may be picky -- hey, I was raised to be able to tell the difference between a mole from Oxaca and and one from Durango; a tamale from the Yucatan and from the north. We've basically given up on Mexican food in Jacksonville -- after much searching -- but we'll add these to our try list. (Thanks!) Someone also recently recommended a place in Yulee, but I've forgotten the name.