Chela’s Restaurant & Taqueria

Their taco is loaded and tasty. The tilapia taco really lets you taste the fish. Horchata is super sweet, but maybe that’s just me. The atmosphere is nice.

This place is the restaurant I HAVE to visit when I'm back in Ann Arbor. My first Yelp review in 2016 or whatever was reviewing them and their amazing tacos. It's nearly a decade later, and the tacos are still something I cherish when Im able to visit. Picture unrelated, but for attention

These are good tacos. They must make their own corn tortillas because they may be the best I’ve had. They’re definitely not made in a factory downtown. Double corn tortillas for tacos ✅ Tacos served with cilantro, onion, and lime ✅ Pickled carrots served on the side ✅ If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was in South Texas or RGV.

We really enjoyed everything we tried, especially the quesadillas with carne asada and the birria tacos. The guacamole was also excellent, fresh and full of flavor. I appreciated that the horchata was not overly sweet, which made it even more refreshing. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food. On top of that, the owner is incredibly kind and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better.

I generally like the food here but today it lacked flavor due to the store being stingy with the sauces. The cashier had given us enough sauces but the guy who i think was the manger came and took them out and gave us 1-2 teaspoon amounts of sauces for all this food that was also meant to go to 2 different people. BLAND FOOD.

Chela’s in Ann Arbor is a must-visit spot for anyone craving authentic Mexican flavors. The food is simply amazing, with the tacos and tamales standing out as personal favorites. The tacos are packed with flavor, and the tamales are perfectly cooked with a delightful filling. The service is impressively quick, and the staff is always friendly, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. The added bonus of a patio allows for a pleasant outdoor meal, and free parking makes the visit hassle-free. If you’re in Ann Arbor, Chela’s should definitely be on your list!

Food was nice and warm when I picked it up. Everything was correct. First thing I noticed was the green salsa I paid for was only filled to 1/2 of the container. Tacos (should) come with salsa already, so paying for an empty container is a rip off. The carne asada tacos were decent; the meat was a bit tough and no salt. They come with one lime and a measly bunch of cilantro and onion. The pork tamale was something I would not get again. Moist but no taste at all. It is lacking any type of salt; don’t be fooled by the green sauce inside, that’s also flavorless! The items unfortunately only had flavor when I dumped hot salsa all over them. As a Mexican-American, this place does not serve quality food. I’d rather make the drive to Detroit for authentic and fair priced Mexican food! Primos Tacos is my favorite spot. It was worth a try.

Food was great! Prices are so affordable and portions good. I Loved the tamales ! I got a pineapple and cheese tamale. The salsas were very flavorful. Staff very kind. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options.

I had heard amazing things about Chela's and it did not disappoint! There were so quick and reliable. We ordered over a dozen things and they got them all correct and it was done in about 10 minutes. The tamale is incredibly delicious, amazing flavor and texture. The tacos are chef's kiss. My favorite thing was the chicken salad. I loved the different ingredients in it combined together, especially with the cilantro vinaigrette. Can't wait to come back to town, so I can come back here!

Local nice people serving good tacos. Really good salsas. The Elote was very good. I want to try the tamales. Wish they had pinto beans although their black beans are good I prefer pintos. I'll be back soon...

My favorite Mexican restaurant in A2. The fish tacos special are my favorite. No a strong fish taste, service is always excellent. Definitely recommend

Homemade authentic Mexican, grab and go, but they have lots of seats. Great lunch spot.

Pros: Relatively cheap Good beverages Fast service Cons: Bland food Skimping on food Lots of other,better options Wow, I think the food quality has gone downhill in the past year or so. Bland rice, bland tacos(meat and veggies). The elote had barely anything on it-like they were trying to skimp out on chili powder and cheese. it would have been so easy and cheap to load up on what makes elote so good but instead it was closer to plain corn on the cobb. Whats great about the Ann Arbor-Ypsi area is how many amazing Mexican and South American places there are. Go to one of those other ones. The upside here is that the food is relatively cheap compared to the food prices of other Ann Arbor restaurants. but its about the same price as other taquerias in Washtenaw so again: just go to one of the other places, same (or cheaper) taco prices and better taste.

Burrito vegetariano. They included what I asked for, but added orange peppers, which I didn't want. I mean, they check the boxes: fresh ingredients, organic beans, etc etc. But it was tasteless. B-minus for the burritio is being generous. Three stars instead of two because they are trying to be good and seem nice.

Solid local Mexican food stop with both online ordering and in-house seating. Prices are comparable to chipotle or qdoba, yet food is fresh and homemade. I ordered the daily special which included 2 tacos, a side of rice and beans, and a drink. For the tacos, I ordered one with chicken and the other with barbacoa. Both tacos were juicy and had good flavor. My only complaint is that I paid extra for guacamole on the tacos, and hardly received any on both of them. The rice and beans were tasty and a great addition to the tacos. To drink, I ordered their house-made limeade which was refreshing. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and will definitely return.

Food didn't have any flavor. Esquite was super sour only thing you could taste was te lime. Service was ok Family Ambiance

Over the years my go-tos here have stayed consistent: tacos or, if I'm feeling particularly indulgent, a chicken or steak quesadilla. But today I ventured from my usual and tried the Cuban Torta and wowowowow. I've got a new fave here, for sure! The torta, for the unfamiliar, is basically a sandwich. All their tortas come with lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, guacamole, and queso fresco and your choice of meat or vegetable. However the Cuban is it's own menu item and includes all that as well as chicken, ham, and pineapple. And, while it's a little on the messy side (I had to start the sandwich with a fork) it's HUGE for the price (I'm seriously still SO SO stuffed right now and I ate an hour ago) and so delicious. The chicken is moist and flavorful, the ham lends a nice salty smokiness, and the pineapple a touch of charred sweetness. I took one bite of this and swore out loud. It was that good. Can't wait till I can get it again. But first I have to digest the first one!

No frills restaurant with outstanding Mexican fare. Order at the counter and they'll bring the food to your table. Grab napkins and plastic ware on the way to your table along with individual salsa cups out of the refrigerator (there's a limit per order). Chips and full size salsa do not come with food, so order separately. The guacamole is fresh with a healthy dose of tomatoes and just the right amount of lime juice and onion. Over the years we've tried most, if not all, of the types of tacos and they're all delicious. Favorites are al pastor, campechano, and carnitas. Carnitas quesadilla is a great choice too. The staff is always friendly and helpful, so if you have a question, ask away. They remodeled during the pandemic and the dining room is more inviting, albeit a little cool in winter. This might sound weird, but the bathroom is awesome. The tile work and decorations look fabulous. So, nothing bad to report. Glowing review. :)

Overall, the food was alright. The al pastor taco was great. The chicken tamale was pretty mushy - a very different texture than I'm used to. The black beans were like they came straight from a can, and the rice was so so. All together this makes up the daily special (1 taco and 1 tamale, with rice and beans). It was decently priced so I wasn't too upset. The horchata was veryyy sweet. Corn tortilla chips seemed store-bought and repackaged into a brown paper bag - that was pretty disappointing. But I will say, the salsas are delicious. I hope they were homemade. I've been here before and this experience wasn't what I was hoping for - I think I'll come back but I'll stick to the tacos.

Prompt service with three guys assembling the orders, which makes it a great place for take out. Large patio but rathy sunny during the lunch hour. The awning helps but can't keep out all the rays. The tacos and tomales were not bad. I have been craving chorizo and they had a version with carne. The chicken stuffing was moist in the tomale. The food felt a bit generic and could use an extra dose of love and seasoning. The lunch special also came with rice and beans and a drink.

DELICIOUS. All I can say is delicious. Very authentic food with tons of flavor. I don't usually love corn shells (I'm more of a flour shell person) but if all corn shells were to taste like this, then I would get them all the time. The guacamole is so good. You can tell they actually use fresh ingredients. It's not like a guacamole sauce...it's actual guacamole. If you are looking for good Mexican food in A2 this is it. There is also plenty of parking and seating inside. Staff is extremely friendly!

I did carry-out. The food was very good and I have no complaints about it. The only complaint I had was readily resolved, but I shouldn't have had to ask for all the missing items in my order. When I arrived, I was given a bag with my order. But it only included the fish tacos and the elote I had ordered. I had to ask for my horchata, which was quickly supplied. Then I had to ask for the rice pudding I had ordered. When she came back with that, she said to wait because I needed the sauces for my tacos. She was very nice and pleasant and even offered to carry my order out to my car for me as I walk with a cane. I declined, but she held the door open. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. But shouldn't all of those items have been together with my order in the bag? I will go back with the hope that they will do batter next time.

Was craving Mexican food, and this came up on most reviewed places in Ann Arbor. Did not disappoint! Amazing tacos and quesadilla. Loved the sides such as the guac and habanero salsa. Friendly and quick service too. Highly recommend!

this is a tough one because Chela's food can be great. however, the number of times they have gotten our online order wrong when we've used their app is significant. the screw ups range from the wrong meat to adding cheese when specifically excluded. the former case we can manage. in the latter case, we have food allergies, so it's a problem. and you can't exactly unwrap a.burrito before you leave, although that seems necessary if we god back.

Good food for the price! Fast service and friendly! Looks family owned Authentic Taco

Went here after striking out at two taco trucks and in need of tacos/a burrito. Went for the chorizo and al pastor tacos along with a carnitas burrito. Overall pretty mid. The tacos were good once I poured the free to grab salsa over them but the burrito was probably 5 inches long and had a pretty low meat to filling ratio. The carnitas I did get was good however... Will probably be coming back if I don't want to talk to a soul and just need tacos (found out they have a mobile ordering option) but I'd make the trek to a truck if you have the energy.

One door to enter and the other for the exit. Arrows and directions and spacing stickers on the floors. Salsa requests at the tables by the to go orders and the soda cooler. The Tamale is mostly cornmeal and very little chicken, it still tastes good, but would be better with more chicken inside of it. Their hot salsa has a high rounds-house kick to it, still burns where the it briefly touched my lip after a bite. The fish taco and the chipotle tacos were both tasty. The tilapia isn't breaded and the slaw is a nice accompaniment. The chipotle chicken isn't spicy but still flavorful. They use a blend of dark and light meat for chipotle chicken. Food is good here, we definitely be back for more. They have one in downtown on 5th Avenue too. Their good about social distancing here for sure.

My daughter was familiar with this place, but had never been, so we decided to give it a shot. It's not much to look at but the food is authentic and unique. A great range of protein options give you an opportunity to creat a lot of unique flavors. They have most of the basics: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. I had the tacos - they were good, but not great. I honestly found them to be a little bland. We also had some chips and guacamole and the guacamole was quite good.

No frills environment. Reasonable prices. Excellent food. The place is a home run.

Living within walking distance if Chela's is DANGEROUS! Really great prices and delicious food! My go to is the torta al pastor always so delicious and satisfying. I've gotten the rice and beans and they're a little lacking flavor wise so I usually skip those but I've never been let down by their tortas or tacos!! I always go HAM on the spicy salsa too!! A true treasure in Ann Arbor! Despite how busy it gets the customer service is great and they've really adapted well to social distancing! Always excited to treat myself to Chela's!

Excellent Food and Service. We continue to get togo food from Chelas! A least once a week to support small businesses in our area! Ordering Familt Lunch now!!!

Excellent find in the cross hairs of liberty just a smidge from the expressway. The food is delivered by warm hearted, creative chefs. Watch out for the jalapeños. However, the first bite might raise your hair. We will definitely return. It has an ambience of being somewhere far away right in the heart of everywhere close.

This is the second time I have gotten food here. Once I did a dine in this time take out. This review is my most recent which was take out. I got the queso dip and chips. I forgot that I was not impressed with this last time till I got it this time and immediately remembered. The dip both times is "broken" and grainy as the cheeses are not blended smoothly and do not really have a good flavor. I also got a burrito and a burrito bowl. The bowl was carne asada and my companion liked it but Chelas is her go to (I was visiting) and not a lot of Mexican variety unless she heads to A2. I had the burrito with Al pastor and it was average. Nothing different than a chipotle burrito if I am honest. The menu is limited and due to the broken dip I had to go with a 2 instead of a 3.

This place is hands down the best Mexican food I have had in Michigan! I went during lunch time and it was super busy! However, they got my food to me so fast and the staff was super friendly and talkative despite the chaos! Every bit takes me back home to California! Would recommend again and again!

I really like this place. I'm sad their downtown location closed but they're been at various events, such as the Ann Arbor Summer Festival and Fireside Cafe at North Campus on Mondays. I got their tacos at the summer festival and it was delicious. It was by far the best tacos I've had in Ann Arbor, and I'm picky when it comes to that. I'm from Texas and grew up eating gas station tacos so you know I like a good taco.

Very good Mexican fast food. I always get the loaded burrito Al Pastor. It has all the flavors and textures I feel are needed for this particular item. Their hot sauce is also quite hot (and very good) so be careful. Every time we eat a meal from Chelas everyone is quite pleased with their choice so you can't go wrong. For the last year or so we have been ordering online and either taking the meals home or eating them outside on the restaurant's patio when the temps and humidity aren't too bad. The only disappointment here are the corn chips. They seem to be straight out of the bag and are not worth eating. We usually just dump them in the trash. With so many excellent food choices you would think that they could come up with a better corn chip. Oh well, this one issue is not a reason to skip this place. Just plan to provide your own chips if eating at home.

I ordered carryout including 3 different tacos, a meat tamale, black beans and some rice. Food was ready and waiting at projected time and pickup was a breeze despite the dining room being fairly full. Food was great, the tamale was my favorite and their hot sauce is amazing. I will definitely be back.

You know the feeling -- it's time for a tasty meal, and nothing but Mexican food will do! That's exactly the situation that I found myself in yesterday at lunchtime. I was meeting a friend, and -- trying to be diplomatic -- I suggested a couple of restaurants. A brief hallelujah chorus broke out when they also chose Chela's out of the ones that I had suggested. We arrived a little before the lunch rush and parked in the small lot in front. The restaurant recently expanded and there are quite a few more tables inside, as well as a nice-sized patio out back. We both went for the lunch special, carne asada tacos on a flour tortilla, and grabbed a drink at the soda fountain while we briefly waited. Once our food arrived, it was worth the short wait. Juicy carne asada in a soft flour tortilla, fresh salsas on top, and perfectly seasoned frijoles and rice made for the perfect noonday meal. When you get that feeling -- you know which one I'm talking about -- Head to Chela's to get your fix!

This spot used to be a great place to get authentic Mexican food. Ive ordered the taco trio several times there and the quality is atrocious. They use a quarter of the meat any other places use and I came 10 minutes early and my order was already on the counter and was completely cold. Corn tortillas have the consistency of wet paper towel and what little meat is there is old, dry and bland. Had to have been sitting there for 15+ minutes.

We tried several tacos. All were great, but the carnitas were some of the best I've had anywhere. Chips were also top notch--extra crispy and lots of bubbles, just the way I like them. We'll definitely be working Chela's into the rotation!

Chela's is a great authentic Mexican restaurant! I got their Daily Special with one Al Pastor and one Chipotle Chicken Taco. They got my order wrong initially, but they were super quick to fix the issue. Their staff is friendly, the restaurant is clean, and best of all, they have a spacious outdoor seating area behind the restaurant! The tacos were definitely the star of the meal. The al pastor tacos were juicy and flavorful, with just the right amount of onions and cilantro. The chicken tacos were good, but paled in comparison to the al pastor tacos, which were much more flavorful and clearly marinated in a host of spices. The medium salsa was pretty mild, and great for adding a bit more juicy brightness to the tacos. I'll definitely be coming back to Chela's for a cheap but quality meal, and I can't wait for the one on South Fifth to reopen!

Ticks all the boxes! Delicious, authentic, quick, good value, and friendly service. Loved the savory tamales and will go back to try the sweet ones!

Unfortunately, I've only been once since COVID. They are one of my favorite Mexican food restaurants. The tamales are so good and the service winderful. The online ordering, when I used it during the "shuttdown" was orderly and quick. One of the best I've used.

Not sure what the hype is about. Nothing was seasoned at all. The good had no taste. In fact if you asked me to define the flavor I would say it tasted of paste. There were peas, corn, and carrots in the "Spanish rice", the queso was grainy, and the chips were stale.

Best tacos in Ann Arbor. Friendly service and good prices. A favorite among my friends.

The employees are nice and helpful, prices are affordable, and flavor/quality of the food is excellent! I recommend the taco trio, elote, and most importantly a torta, I found that the most filling. I've only ever had the fish and rajas as my base and they never disappoint

Been a few times, great flavor in all of their meals. The guacamole is great, the queso less so. Highly recommend for good flavor on a budget

Best authentic Mexican food in Ann Arbor hands down. Great service to boot. It's our go-to place.

Authentic Mexican food. Not authentic Mexican prices but reasonable. They have two locations. The one on Maple is no great shakes but good food. The one in Dexter is a better restaurant for seating.

Stopped in for lunch I and my daughter got the special. I got 2 tacos rice and beans. The meat i got was the chorizo mix tacos were very good. Beans kind of plain. Daughter got the steak taco and the chicken tamale. She liked both. The beans are kinda plain but good. Try the carrots they are good. The rice, is good. Wife got the fish tacos. She said they were good also.

Worst delivery and customer service experience ever, and the food wasn't much better. Would not recommend.

Fish tacos, daily specials which included Tamales, tacos, black beans and rice. Very good to just pop in and eat lunch or just something quick. Would be back if ever in the area again.

LOVE their taco take-out box for the price its a great value and we always end up with some leftovers (hooray!) This is authentic as it gets. The meats are all amazing, as are their tamales, horchata, salsa. Delicious. The tacos to go make ~10 tacos and easily feed our family of 6. A popular weeknight request! Online ordering and curbside make it easy. The Al Pastor, carnitas, and ccarne asada are favorites. I appreciate that the meat is well trimmed and no fatty or chewy bits (not like Chipotle - thanks!) It takes time and care to trim meat well, and they get the job done right at Chela's. I also loathe bland salsa. Their spicy sauce is no joke. Have your kids made you read Dragons Love Tacos? Like 10,000,000 times? This place would not do well with dragons. Spicy.hot.salsa. Like 10 alarm hot. Don't dump a container of hot salsa on your taco unless you want to sweat. Also - word to the wise - check your order before you leave! We've had 2 orders with a missing item - large bag of chips missing with our taco meal and a large quesadilla missing from another order. Seriously - check everything before you drive 20 minutes to your house and your kids yell at you for not having their dinner (oops!) The food is DELICIOUS, but the attention to details is sometimes lacking. The flavor is 150% spot on amazing, and keeps me coming back at the persistent request of my kids - and my own taste buds. Home made, fresh corn tortillas? Thank you! They cut the limes, make the salsa, prepare all of the meats - you can TASTE the heart and soul of deliciousness. We also LOVE the dining room expansion and outdoor space. The new expanded restrooms are also very nice, and always clean. Service is prompt and friendly. We are regulars and the food has never disappointed. The servers always have a friendly smile and are quick to offer help, too. So glad this business is surviving and thriving.

I tried Chela's for the first time and was SO happy to finally find a good taco! I did the taco trio with barbacoa, carnitas and Al pastor. The service was great too - quick and friendly check out for my pick-up order, and an employee recommended some salsas to go with my tacos. I cant wait to go back!

I really hate to do this, especially what's been going on in the news recently about the owner of Chela's and the racist remarks he received. It was actually yesterday when I decided to order Chela's to-go online because I haven't had it in a while and I wanted to show my solidarity to the owner, the Mexican community, and the immigrant community. I ordered to-go online. My email confirmation said my order will be ready for pick-up at 11:45 AM. I arrive at 11:50 AM and someone who I'm assuming is a senior employee at this location stared at me, pointed at his watch, and said, "It's not 12:15." I matched his stern tone and showed him that my email said 11:45 AM. Then he began speaking to me politely and said that the guys in the back messed up the timing of my order and that they will have it ready asap. By asap, I still had to wait 25 minutes as I watched other people, whose orders who came after me, receive their food. The least they could have done was put my simple, single-person order at the top, but instead, I was met with a rude senior employee. I will always appreciate the diversity Chela's has brought to A2 and Michigan and I hope I can eventually let go of this frustratingly rude incident yesterday.

Best , cheapest Authentic Mexican . If your in Ann Arbor this is a must stop on your food tour .

Gem of place in Ann Arbor for Mexican Food. Been here on Friday for dinner around 7pm. Straight to the counter and ordered the daily special that comes with 2 tacos/tamales, rice, beans and drink. I got one taco( Barbacoa), one Tamale (chicken)and Horchata for drink. My friend got 2 tamales and Mango Jaritos for drink. Paid at the counter ($16)and picked up the drink,sauces, sour cream from the fridge and cutlery and chose a table. 5 mins and boom they came with the order. Taco and Tamale were amazing. Dint like the beans and felt horchata is bit over sweet for me. Pros: ------- Amazing Food Quick Service Inexpensive Free Parking Townies brewery next to it Taco bell, Mc Donald and other food options close by. Vibrant ambience Cons: -------- None to me Cheap and Best !!!!

Whoa ! So walking past saw a little bit of a line streaming from this restaurant but we turned around and came back because of The amazing smell. Super cheap prices. Tacos are fresh and loaded with ingredients. Had the pastor and steak and will be back for more !