Antojitos Izcalli - Authentic Méxican Restaurant

Incredible Mexican in … wait for it … Alabama! ? We come from Arizona and know our Mexican food and this place would compete even there. Solid, simple and done really well. While it was packed when we got there, it turns over quick and we only wait a couple minutes for a place to sit. The staff wasn’t too fast but once they engaged us they were focused and helpful. We got a breakfast plate, Gordita, tacos and tostada. The Al Pastor was the best. I also liked the carnitas. Highly recommended for those visiting Tuscaloosa.

Don't let the outside fool you and make sure you check your directions to get here. It's not only incredibly authentic and genuine but it's pretty much like sitting in this family's kitchen and having them serve you from the window. It's that good and that authentic. We really enjoyed watching this family work together and also preserving their heritage at the same time. The pride in their work and the food they are creating together really comes through with every bite. The prices are absolutely incredible and it's no wonder this place is so popular. If you're looking for the real thing and not some chain, this is your place. There's only one for a reason and it's because this family is putting everything they have into the success of this restaurant in order to bring all of us back time and time again.

Easily the best Mexican Food I've had in Tuscaloosa! Maybe the best I've had in the state! It tastes like home cooking no way around it! I've been around and had my fair share of Mexican Food and if you love it you gotta try this! The staff is great! Not a whole lotta room to sit but it has a warm cozy feeling to it! It has it's own life if you know what I mean! I love the burritos! Way better than Chipotle or Moe's (no offense)! Horchata is okay I've had better but still pretty good! Stop by if you get a chance!

Its hard to get more Authentic that Antojitos! The staff is always awesome, even if they have had a bad day. The food is always good, and if you love spicey food the way I do, you'll love the sauce. I dine in whenever possible but this time I wasnt able to and the food was just as good as if I had a plate in the restaurant. Entering and exiting the lot is a little difficult due to the traffic on Hargrove Rd (unavoidable imo), however its worth it to get stuck for a few minutes.

Awesome food and inexpensive! I got the Gordita with rice and beans. The red and green table sauces were super good. Waitress was super friendly and fast. I would recommend this place for sure❤️

The food tasted nice. Arello was our waiter and he was so sweet and attentive. Making sure to ask the cook about allergens and he checked in on us throughout our meal. There was one restroom, family style. No baby changing table and would be difficult with a wheelchair. Tables are close together. Location wise it's not in the best area but we felt safe while inside especially with the kind staff!

Really good and authentic Mexican food hight recommended 🫶🔥

This is a fantastic and authentic Mexican restaurant (compared to others) in the area! The prices are fair and the staff is kind. I would 100% recommend this place for a quick bite or takeout because it can get a bit loud and crowded (not a great place for a date). I would highly recommend this place and will be coming back! Note: The burrito is SO GOOD and is plenty of food! Great price too!

The BEST Mexican restaurant in Alabama! I wish we had this restaurant in Georgia! Truly amazing food and service was the just the way you want!!!

Not much more to be said here. Phenomenal food. Best Mexican in Tuscaloosa. Parking can be challenging and it is a bit of a hole in the wall, but hopefully that keeps the fancy whiners and influencers away. Family operation. Super friendly people, great prices, everything works.

My favorite place in Tuscaloosa I beg for the day you have chips & salsa 5/5 Foods incredible

Went back to Antojitos recently and destroyed my diet with way too many al pastor / marinated pork American style tacos. With the signature char with the savory sweet and heat they are truly too good and hard to stop eating them. Add the restaurants verde sauce for the perfect bite. My daughter finally gave in and tried them. She is a steak person so the carne asada have been her go-to thing. Once she tried the al pastier it was all over for her too- it will be al pastor going forward. Service was fantastic as always and the atmosphere makes Antojitos fun with its small size and table layout. Food photos this time You will find me here when I'm in Tuscaloosa. I hope to see you there too!

Primero, el restaurante no es bonita pero la comida?!?! es fantástico! La cabeza vaca tacos es mi nuevo favorito y aún la maize tortilla es nixtamalera ( treated with Niacin to make the corn easier to digest) la carne estaba tierna, jugosa y llena de sabor. También comí el. Sándwich cubano, no es mi favorito pero sigue siendo bueno, su versión tenia hot dog, chorizo y aguacate, lechuga y tomate. Mi invitado pidió el plato de carne asada que también estaba delicioso. Tienen productos de Coca Cola, jar ritos y aqua por supuesto. El servicio también fue excelente! First the restaurant is nothing special to look at, but the food?!? Is fantastic! The cow head tacos are my new favorite and they even serve traditional authentic corn tortillas which are processed with Niacin to make them easier to digest. The meat in the cow head tacos were tender, juicy and full of flavor. ( I had to order two more) I also had the Cuban sandwich, not my favorite but still good, their version of this classic has ham, a hot dog, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and chorizo. My guest had the carne asada plate which was also delicious. They offer coke products, jarittos and water of course. The service was also excellent. Five stars.

Everything is amazing !! Good authentic Mexican food!! Tacos , tostadas, rice - everything is delicious!! Our go to place when we are in town ! Owner and staff are running the place - excellent!! Highly recommend??

Whenever I see a "hole in the wall", family run business, we are all for it & Antojitos Izcalli did not disappoint in any way. It's in a small location near Hargrove Rd. and the fact that it was packed to the brim gave us good intuition about it. It was Alabama A-Day weekend so Tuscaloosa was BUSY, but we were still treated as if we were the only diners there. Our waiter was probably the best waiter we've had all year considering the circumstances of the large crowd. He never got overwhelmed or succumbed under pressure at all! We were given drinks (Jarritos ofc with water) promptly then put our order in. The food: we saw the reviews about the flavor, authenticity, etc. Yes, this place delivered in every way. We had some Esquite to start off. We've had great and bad esquite and we definitely rank this up with the greatest -- full of rich flavor. For the main courses, we had the carne asada with rice & beans and the quesadilla suprema with rice & beans with salad. Everything was FRESH AND FLAVORFUL. I don't remember looking up from the plate much when the food arrived. The steak had great flavor although I should've asked how well I would have liked it cooked as it was well done. All & all, try it. It's not going to disappoint. These are the restaurants with the elite dishes. Most of the chains and "pretty, bourgeois" restaurants have horrible food. Try this spot for an authentic Mexican taste.

Amazing find off IG. Authentic and delicious!! Friendly service. Extremely busy. Small clean place

While visiting Tuscaloosa decided to try this because of all the good reviews. I definitely was not disappointed. Our server was a young man who was extremely polite and very helpful recommending items. I ordered 2 items ala carte and do not remember what they were but it was good. Looking at the lunch specials going out to other tables I wished I had tried that but that will be saved for another day if i get back to Tuscaloosa! The aqua Fresca was good and refreshing. I could have drank a barrel. The place is small with mainly locals but I overheard a few others who seemed to be first timers. It is in my top 3, maybe 2 Mexican restaurants. If you are in Tuscaloosa look it up, you won't be disappointed!

Authentic and delicious... this no frills spot off McFarland is really delicious! Very affordable with quick, friendly service. A Tuscaloosa go to.

We were a bit wary going in as this looked hole in the wall from outside. Going out of our comfort zone was rewarding to some extent - though quite basic on taste for vegetarians, kids liked their chicken quesadilla kids meal with side of beans & rice and beef tacos. Service was fast and we could see a woman hand rolling fresh tortillas in the back and a sign saying "food made fresh daily". Not sure if I will try again as I would have liked more flavor in my food but if you are NOT vegetarian, you might enjoy the food. I liked the American style taco(one small taco with beans, lettuce, sour cream & cotija cheese for $4) but not the bland thick corn bread topped with same toppings($7.50 on the menu, not worth it). The other thing was we couldn't review a printed receipt and were told to look at the screen which only showed the item prices and not the extra tax and if any gratuity was added as we were table of 5.

If you are looking for real authentic Mexican food, look no further. Antojitos Izcalli's menu is unique featuring authentic Mexican home made flavorful dishes that you can only find at Mexican dinner tables but they bring those dishes to the restaurant. The waiters are friendly, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. This is the best authentic ethnic food of its kind. The prices are very reasonable, even though the food is fantastic!

This is the best Mexican food I have ever had. Do not let anything hold you back from coming here. It could not be a better choice for you.

Great. Family atmosphere. Food is authentic, fresh and make to order. Staff is friendly and welcoming. Highly recommended.

In the tiniest, most humble space, some of the freshest, most delicious and authentic Mexican food north of the Rio Grande. Worth going out of your way for, exceedingly clean, excellent service, restorative.

Such a welcoming family atmosphere! Restaurant was clean and friendly. Service was quick and kind. Food was hot, fresh, and fantastic! Like eating a home-cooked meal. Definitely a place I will visit whenever I'm in Tuscaloosa.

Yelped places to eat after touring the Alabama campus this summer and to our surprise tacos popped up. We love tacos and the reviews were good so we had to check it out. Service was friendly and we were told to just pick where we'd like to sit. They gave us a few minutes and then took our order. The food came pretty fast and was delicious. Definitely worth a trip to come check if it if you're in the area.

We order takeout here frequently. The food is consistently delicious and authentic. Their regular menu items are great, and their specials tend to be even better. When they make tamales those are a real treat too. Everyone who works there is very warm and welcoming.

I'm a student at UA, but I'm originally from San Diego, California. Since I moved here last year I've been looking for authentic Mexican food. Unfortunately after trying this place I'm still searching. This may be good if you've only ever had Tex-Mex but it's still nothing like home. The food was lackluster and the corn was from a can. I honestly didn't think it seemed that expensive but it's definitely overpriced for "Mexican food". They were also out of all their Horchata and Jamaica which they call something else when I ordered.

OMG if I could persuade you to do one thing it would be to go to this restaurant!! I cannot talk enough abt how amazing the food was. We got the quesadillas and street tacos and American tacos and everything was amazing!! The staff was very attentive and the prices were very reasonable! This place would be a great takeout meal for the fam but dining in is just as good! Definitely worth a try!

If you love real Mexican food this is the spot ! Be prepared to find a tiny busy hard to find a parking spot place. The guys working in there are great , they took my order and had it ready quick. I love sopes , and this one is good. Steak beans lettuce piled high on a tasty corn shell. Everyone in this place was eating posole. Had I known I would of ordered that. Looked amazing ! Asada was good , red sauce was phenomenal. I love good hot salsa. Try this if your in the area.

Saw this restaurant had all great reviews in Yelp, so we gave it a try. Small little place with indoor seating, but they are not allowing dine in at this time. We ordered off the menu, the girl behind the counter was helpful and friendly. The food was good. Really good! Would definitely come back again.

Hanging on the wall of this humble restaurant are two plaques, one that awards Antojitos Izcalli as the best Mexican restaurant in Alabama for 2020, the other plaque proclaims that this restaurant was voted the best Latin restaurant in Alabama for 2020. After dining here a few times, I can attest that these are not simply words on a plaque. This unassuming restaurant in a rundown strip mall in Tuscaloosa, Alabama kicks out some amazing food. Is it the best? That is a hard decision to make, however I will say that it is one of the best and a state that has some amazing Mexican food. For this lunch I had the pambazo, which is bread dipped in red guajillo pepper sauce and filled with potatoes and chorizo. I also had a campecho taco. Both were amazing and more than fairly priced, especially considering the quality of the food and the quantity of it, as well. This meal was altogether satisfying. It filled not only my stomach, but it invoked within my soul a memory I never had, a longing for a faraway place that I had never visited. This is serious food that will serenade your soul and will haunt your dreams. Try here once and you will return.

Antojitos has by far the best Mexican food in Tuscaloosa! We live here and eat there once a week. Staff are super friendly and service is quick. Our favorite dish is the Bistec Mexicana, steak is tender, mixed with onions and peppers. Their homemade sauces make everything taste amazing ! Highly recommend.

I used to reside in Alabama, and this spot was my absolute go-to for dining. Among the few places I still yearn for, it definitely tops the list. Despite being a hidden gem of a restaurant, you can trust that the food is exceptional. The interior is tastefully decorated, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. The staff consistently treat me with kindness, and my order is consistently prepared within 20 minutes. My usual order consists of a chicken quesadilla suprema with extra rice and beans, and I always request as many servings of their green salsa as they can provide. Whenever I am in town, I'll always stop by!

Wow, wow, wow!!! This place is fantastic! Stopped by for lunch today. Heard good things about it, but most people around here have no idea what good Mexican food is. Well, this place might be the best I've had. I had the torta with Al Pastor. It was so good. The pork was very flavorful and crisp. It made a great sandwich. I was so excited to see they have Pozole on Fridays. Most restaurants don't offer this soup because it is so labor intensive and difficult to make. I haven't had any since my last trip to Puebla, so I can't wait to try it. I arrived at 11:00 and the place was already packed. Never seen such a crowd and many to-go orders as well. However, they were very fast and I was back to work in 20 minutes. Great place!

This place has authentic and incredible Mexican cuisine. I've eaten here three times, and every time I've been blown away by the quality of the food. I tried the quesadilla w/ rice and beans, the burrito with pollo (chicken) as the protein, as well as street tacos with Al Pastor (Pork). I can't recommend these enough. Even their rice was to die for. Usually, rice at Tex-Mex or any western inspired Mexican food joint is super bland. But I could genuinely just eat the rice from here and be totally satisfied. About the Chicken: It's marinated and seasoned to perfection. With any dish you order, you're greeted with two salsa to compliment your food. There's a salsa verde, and a spicy tomato based sauce. They're both incredible and they add a great touch to the already fantastic food. Last thing I'll top this wordy review off with is this: As it's not a Mexican tradition, don't expect free chips and salsa. That's not what this place is. If you want genuine, honest, and the best Mexican food in Tuscaloosa - this is the place to go.

Straight fire. I shouldn't have to write this many words to describe how amazing this place is other than straight fire but I will to satisfy yelp. This is the real deal no bs ALmex like every other "Mexican" restaurant in town.

Amazing! Cheap, tasty, and great service! When i came it was packed but they were quick and very attentive and made one of the best burritos I have ever had!!

Best Mexican food in Tuscaloosa hands down. This is not a Tex-max place though so no chips and salsa etc. it's an actual Mexican spot so expect nice meats/great beans and rice. Green salsa is perfect. Great service always and very friendly people. I've eaten here probably over 100 times.

Another great visit. This small establishment is small and unassuming, but you always have to fight for a seat any time you go. The Servers were super flexible with my group as we switched from takeout to dining in, once a table opened up after we ordered. Every order was correct, served hot, and the flavors were fantastic. I had an al pastor burrito with no rice (which I was thankful that they were willing to do) and esquites on the side. Both were great and had me feeling full and satisfied. You cannot beat their authentic food and flavors for their low prices. Forever will recommend this place.

Real Mexican family food served by a very friendly family. Authentic Mexican delicious food.

Great authentic Mexican food. Really nice employees. Menu is simple but it's got everything you need for a solid dining experience.

What a wonderful place! I'm not a huge fan of Mexican food -- probably because I haven't yet found something that consistently agrees with my palate, as I hate hate hate cilantro. It's genetic! However, I knew I had to try out Antojitos Izcalli because of how many wonderful reviews they get on pretty much every reviewing platform. It did not disappoint! Although it's a little hard to access, with a small parking lot and a lot of construction going on nearby, it's definitely worth the trip. Everyone working there was extraordinarily friendly, welcoming, and pleasant. If it's always that way, then I'd recommend coming when you're having a bad day; it's impossible to be unhappy around such a joyful staff. Although seating is limited, they do a booming carryout business, which is what I wanted anyway. I got the quesadilla suprema with chicken. I'm guessing it's made with chicken tinga and Oaxaca cheese, but that's just a guess! Regardless, it was fresh, hot, and huge. I couldn't finish the whole thing. They also do homemade refried beans, which struck a great balance between mostly-smooth with a few whole beans mixed in. The rice could have been a bit more flavorful, but I still enjoyed it. The woman at the cashier gave me several carryout salsa cups without me even thinking to ask, which I super appreciated. I tried three different salsas/dips; one had too much cilantro, but there was a creamy avocado dip (not guacamole, it was too watery; not sure what it was but I liked it) and an extra hot salsa that I really enjoyed. Next time, I'll be sure to ask for sour cream, if they have it -- that was the only thing I felt I was missing. Whether you're like me and looking to learn to love Mexican food, or a Mexican food fanatic, I highly recommend this place -- it's delicious, homemade food cooked by some of the kindest folks I've met in Tuscaloosa.

Limited menu equals delicious. Authentic Mexican appetizer food with daily specials. Parking is a drag but the food is WORTH IT and the staff is great!!

Came by here for lunch after seeing there ratings. I came in at 11:45 and ordered and had my food pretty fast. I asked the waiter for his recommendation and went that. The entree was really good, but it was a little small. I should have gone with the daily special that came with rice and beans as they don't give you chips while you wait like most Mexican restaurants do. It was nice to try a different entree than I would have normally gone with in a Mexican restaurant. The staff were all friendly. When I went to the register to pay they charged me 9 dollars which I didn't realize until after I had left that I got charged for something else than what I ordered. The entree that I got was 5.50 and I ordered a water to drink. I wish I had realized it and said something before I left.

One of the best restaurants - maybe THE best - in Tuscaloosa! The tacos are so good. Their al pastor is magical. Highly recommend.

If you like hole in the walls this is your place! It's in one of those old brown strip malls with random other businesses. You might not feel 100% safe until you enter the restaurant which only adds to the excitement of this adventure. Very unsuspecting for such a good Mexican place. Staff is beyond friendly, the food is authentic and delicious. If you love Mexican street tacos the ones here are excellent. They even go as far as to offer fresh orange juice and lemonade. Stop here on your next hunger adventure.

Al pastor tacos... enough said. We liked them American style but I'm sure all are great.

Found this little gem while I was in town for work. I made a quick lunch stop in on my way back to Georgia. I saw the reviews and figured it was worth checking out. I don't know how busy this place gets but it is cozy. There isn't a lot of seating but people dont seem to linger so it probably isn't much of an issue. Onto the food... based on other reviews I started with huarache with carnitas. It was so damn good! I was upset I had not had it before. I could have easily eaten a 2nd one. I would say this is a must order when visiting. I also had the carne asada. The meat was thin so based on looks I thought it would be overcooked and tough. I was wrong. The meat was pretty tender and seasoned well..I appreciated the mound of grilled onions on top. I was by myself and though maybe I ordered too much food but I ate every single bite. I really enjoyed it all! Oh and there is a self serve salsa bar with a variety of fresh salsas, cilantro, onions and lime. Don't forget to hit that up to try salsas with your meal. Food was on point, service was great, the place is small but clean. I'd definitely come back if ever I am back in town.

I just ordered a steak burrito and 3 tacos. The tacos were full of onion and cilantro and 2 or 3 very little pieces of meat. The burrito was big but full of rice and beans. No meat. I took the food to go and when I saw it I said Whaatt! but I was hungry and I had to eat it. It is the first time in my life I found a place so miserable at putting meat to the orders. The customer service was good and the ambiance a mess.

The food is great! Service is very quick It has a nice mom-n-pop ambiance! Truly authentic!

absolutely love this place. simple menu, great food, friendly people even when it gets busy. prices are good for what you get and it always feels homey and lively in there. only thing i would say can improve is the aguas frescas; their horchata and jamaica aren't my favorite but they've got jarritos and coke. great little place.

This place is the best Mexican in all of Alabama! Very classic authentic Mexican food at an affordable price. It's extremely fast and has very friendly service. foods better than sex 10/10! I wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars. Come here now

Every time I come here I always ordered tacos, and personally I could consider the closest taste to an actual street food. Izcalli itself is a municipality near to Mexico City. Hand made tortillas, tasteful salsas, aguas frescas. Daily meal specialties, everyone is able to choose from all food options. If as it couldn't be enough, service in my experience is also exceptional!

Sorry this place is not for me, ordered the Chicken Quesadilla all cheese hardly any chicken hated the marinade on the chicken it was not good to me. There are so many other options around Tuscaloosa and I went by the Yelp reviews never again. My fiancé liked it I should have walked when they said that don't serve Iced Tea!

So so good. We love this place consistently great food w homemade tortillas. I've never gone wrong ordering the special, but if you want this, go early at lunch bc it'll be gone. We all love the posole and menudo. My standby is huevos rancheros w green sauce. Now I'm getting hungry.....

Food is authentic and amazing! Very friendly customer service. Highly recommend. This place was busy but you were still able to get a table quickly.

Small hole in the wall. Best places for food. Authentic. Delicious and inexpensive. Street tacos are on point. Burrito was different from what I have had which had rice and chicken. Sopes were so good. Love this place. Was packed with locals.