Anyone searching for delicious, original cultural dishes need look no further than La Charreada Mexican Cuisine.
Located in Marion, Indiana, La Charreada serves authentic Mexican food, drinks and offers catering according to the restaurant’s website.
Walking into the establishment, my girlfriend and I were greeted by an entryway nicely decorated with greenery and paintings. After waiting for a few moments, we were escorted to a booth and served complimentary chips and salsa, a staple of many Mexican restaurants.
The chips and salsa were solid, but nothing out of the ordinary. We decided to order a bowl of guacamole in addition to the salsa, which we were both impressed by. It was well seasoned and tasted fresh, pairing well with the lightly salted chips.
Fortunately, we did not have to wait long before we were given our menus.
The menu had a seemingly endless amount of options, causing us to be slightly overwhelmed when choosing what to eat. However, the variety is also a strength, with food items to suit all tastes.
We were served by a very friendly waitress who was genuinely invested in helping us. She was fun to chat with and even came back after we ordered to make clarifications on what exactly we wanted.
We only needed to wait about 15 minutes for our food to be brought out to us once we ordered.
I decided to try the fiesta tacos, which included a blend of diced mangos, shrimp, vegetables, cheese, pico and chipotle mayo. They were slightly on the expensive side, costing $16.90 for three tacos, but once they were brought to me I could see why.
The tacos were filled to the brim and included a generous portion of rice on the side. I was not able to finish eating all three, so I had leftovers to save for another day.
The mango was the best part of the experience in my opinion. It added a unique and refreshing taste to the shrimp and vegetable medley, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
My girlfriend opted to order Yolanda’s enchiladas, which consisted of three shredded chicken enchiladas topped with cheese sauce and rice. The queso covering the enchiladas was the highlight of her meal, which also included large portions at a price of $14.80.
Both meals tasted fresh and authentic, which we greatly appreciated. It was clear the staff took pride in creating a quality experience for their customers.
Juan Guerra, the manager and co-owner of the restaurant since 2017, said that customers enjoy the cleanliness and atmosphere of the restaurant, as well as the consistency and quality of the food.
The atmosphere was something we appreciated on our visit. We were seated in a booth lit by hanging lamps, with decorative paintings and mariachi music adding to the experience.
Aside from the food, the amazing staff were the standout of our night, prioritizing speed without sacrificing the accuracy of the orders. Guerra and the employees pride themselves on their hospitality.
“One of the greatest things about working at a restaurant is definitely the opportunity to interact with customers,” Guerra said. “I feel like some customers not only come to have a nice lunch or dinner, some of them enjoy just talking to us. I personally enjoy to be able to see families growing together.”
La Charreada provides a welcoming atmosphere for all kinds of people and occasions. A wide variety of guests can find great food and community thanks to the ambience and service.
The restaurant has been a staple in the local community since it opened its doors nearly 30 years ago, according to the city of Marion’s website.
“I think throughout all these years La Charreada have become definitely part…of this community,” Guerra said. “We don’t hesitate on investing time and money on what we do; we enjoy our sponsorship with athletic teams, specifically IWU and Oak Hill Community Schools, also serving yearly special events like Child Prevention Abuse held at Ivy Tech College.”
Overall, I highly recommend La Charreada Mexican Cuisine for those looking for a fun night out. The prices are reasonable considering the generous portions of food and the service is outstanding.
La Charreada is located at 1102 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, Indiana, 46952. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. every day and closes at 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, staying open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
