La Margarita Restaurant and Grill

My daughter and her fiancé took my husband and I and my younger daughter out for lunch at La Margarita in Salem, Oregon. This was my first time coming to this restaurant and my daughter was very excited because it’s her favorite restaurant. I ordered a shredded beef enchilada. I took a couple bites and I felt something long hard and rubbery in my mouth. I spit it out and it was part of a trachea with bronchial branches coming off of it. Something like this is not supposed to be in shredded beef. I do not recommend this restaurant and I will never ever set foot in it again Absolutely disgusting!

Wonderful restaurant food was served promptly The decor is nice and the food is amazing

We ate at La Margarita Restaurant and Grill for the first time recently. We have tried three other Mexican restaurants in Salem and, while the food was good at most of them, we thought their prices were very high. We were pleasantly surprised to find the menu at La Margarita Restaurant and Grill to be surprisingly less expensive than any of the other Mexican restaurants we have tried, and the food was excellent. We had the Enchiladas Carnitas ($15.00) and the Gerry Lewin's Combination ($16.00). They were both very good, served hot with rice and refried pinto beans. They also offer black beans as an option. We also each had a 16oz house margaritas ($10.50 each) which was pretty good (having lived in Mexico, we are pretty picky about margaritas). The total bill was $52.00 before the tip). We went on a Friday night and arrived at about 5:45pm (they open at 5). The restaurant was already on a wait list. We were quickly greeted and told there would be a wait of approximately 15 - 20 minutes for a table. We were seated in less than 10 minutes. The restaurant is comfortable and not overly decorated like many Mexican restaurants tend to be. The only improvement would be a larger area to wait for your table. The parking lot adjacent to the restaurant was full and we didn't want to pay for on-street parking, so we drove two blocks to the Liberty Square Parkade and parked. I highly recommend trying La Margarita Restaurant and Grill.

I was on the search for margarita flights, and that's how I came upon La Margarita. I thought the flight was cute, and I loved that you were able to choose the flavors you wanted. Of course, it feels like you drown them in three sips, but I still had fun! 🤪 As for the food, I must admit that La Margarita had pretty good food. The enchiladas suizas weren't what I thought I was ordering, but I was pleasantly surprised and ended up loving them. They were creamy, cheesy, and had bits of chicken in them. The rice was also nice and fluffy. My friend was also generous enough to share her flautas with me, and it was perfectly crisp and generously filled with soft and juicy chicken. I really liked those, too. Overall, I can see myself going back. It was a good meal!

I had my birthday dinner here and had a wonderful experience! The staff and servers were exceptional and courteous. The food was amazing, the drink menu has lots to choose from too! At the end of our meal they brought me a yummy dessert and sang happy birthday! What a great experience. We will definitely come here again!

We love coming here! The food is always so good! We appreciate how friendly the staff is and fast the service is too! It’s got good vibes and is overall a great place to eat!

I've been here a couple of times, and overall, it's one of my favorite Mexican spots. Cool old building, it's nice inside, prices are great - $15 and I got stuffed, and I like to eat! $11 for the cosuela, a clay fish bowl of fruit, tropical fruit juice, and booze. Yum, share it or don't at your own risk. I would have given the food 5 stars had my wife's steak tacos not have been "the blandest I've ever tasted," but to be fair she accidentally ordered camaron instead of chimichurri, and felt so bad when they brought it out that she just asked for steak, and then they arrived like 2 minutes later, so that could easily have explained it. I'll definitely still go back.

I got the enchilada and it was amazing I got seated and within seconds there was chips and salsa and water then I ordered and in about 3 minutes I got my food. Highly recommend

Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 3/5 Excellent food, service is quick and efficient, ambiance is hustling & busy, but that's fine. Not too crazy about the upstairs seatings and the ginormous booths (commonly used) which takes up so much valuable spaces, when they can seat more if it set up differently. Hey, as long as the food hits all the right points that's all that matters! Keep up the great food quality and affordable prices.

Brought my mom and dad here to have lunch it was their first time here, and i was excited to bring them to one of my favorite restaurants in Salem. However, my mom got the traditional beef enchilada. A couple bites into it and she bit down on this. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!! And definitely not within basic food safety standards. Very disappointed considering I've been a loyal customer since before COVID. It's safe to say we will not be coming back here and recommend you are very cautious when dining here.

This restaurant is great!!! They give you free chips and salsa, and the staff will refill your salsa free of charge. The salsa is a little spicy, and it is really good! I have been here twice. The first time, I ordered the chili relleno with pinto beans and rice, and my friend ordered tacos with black beans. We also got guacamole, and she got a cocktail. The second time, I ordered a veggie burrito with pinto beans and rice. My friends ordered a variety of dishes, and all of them enjoyed their food. Everything was so good!! The staff members were friendly, and they brought our food out incredibly quickly. They accommodated our large party (about 10 people) by giving us a large table and being patient when we needed more time to order. I would definitely eat here again!

I would give a 5 for the drinks they ate amazing tasty and just enough alcohol. But the foood. Well the molcajete to be precise. When you get served food in a Molcajete doesnt mean Anything in there is a molcajete!! I was expecting a steaming molcajete with a slice of carne asada sliced chicken with the veggies and salsa and queso fresco. Instead i got what looked like gumbo . I was expecting rice on the side it was in the molcajete. And just beans on the side. And THREE. Tortillas to go with it all. Besides the look the sausages inside were for gumbo or jambalaya cause that was the flavor it gave too. It was good but not great. So many veggies less meat. Has more bell peppers and onion than could count. Let my partner have all the meat.

We really wanted to live this place because it's close to us, and are suppose to be known for their margaritas. However we were sadly unimpressed. The food was very bland, and my husband's food was missing the beans. I ordered the fajita prawn taco salad and was sad to only 5 shrimp on it. The homemade tortilla was great. I had to add some salt to have flavoring. As for my husband, he ordered the Carne A La Tampiquena and was disappointed. The beans were missing and the steak had no flavor. It was cooked to the requested medium rare. The highlight was the creme sauce. We ordered the blackberry margarita for two and thought we could taste the tequila just fine- this seems to be a problem with other reviews. However there was so much puree that it was difficult to drink and overly sweet. The place itself was clean and have lots of people. There was plenty of seating and would be a nice spot to just grab drinks. I'm willing to go try a different margarita. The service was ok, it took a bit to be noticed and seated and they came to check on us only one time.

I had the signature chicken enchiladas and they were really good! It came out super quick! The place was cute and cozy. Valentine's Day decorations were up and made the place a little romantic , nice for a date night! Also lunch prices were very good. Lunch is until 5pm on Saturdays. Bathrooms are kinda hard to find.

Had a top notch experience at La Margarita! We ordered 2 Diet Cokes, cheese dip as an appetizer, and 2 entrees & our bill was $35. (We were there on a weekday for lunch.) Service was on point & collaborative and ambiance was great. Food was good, not great, but well worth the prices. Bonus they offer both Coke & Pepsi fountain products, and the option for black or pinto refried style beans. We will definitely be back!

Whenever I drive past this restaurant there is always a line. I finally had to find out what all the hype was about. I ate the fajita taco salad and it was absolutely delicious. The food arrived in seemingly no time. After eating there I now know why people are always waiting to get food here!

Their chips and salsa is the best in town hands down. Their service and food is consistently excellent and I love that they offer take out and delivery now. This place is a classic family gathering restaurant. We love it, a Salem gem.

Amazing atmosphere solid 5 star service. Food was good drinks were meh chips were warm and amazing great salsa spicy definitely coming back. Will try different drinks and food. I had suzia enchiladas and was really good. Wife has normal enchiladas rojo and not good. Personal choice im sure. Overall definitely 4 star and WILL be back. Price was VERY reasonable too.

This is a wonder gem of a place in an unexpected location. I was working at the theater next door and only had a short time for a meal break when we got there. We were seated immediately after spinning a prize wheel at the entrance (winning a tee-shirt) during the dinner rush on a weeknight. The decor is dark wood, old-worldy, and the service was quick. We were greeted and seated quickly, drink orders taken and delivered in time to make our dinner choices. I ordered something I had never seen before, "El "Jibarito" Based on Chicago's famous dish from El Borinquen - slow roasted pork carnitas served between thin slices of crisp fried plantain, topped with an orange pico de gallo salsa, chipotle mayo, Mexican cream and cheese." The food came out quickly and hot. My companion got a couple of tacos, which she enjoyed. The Jibarito was delicious, each layer of flavor coming out in every bite. I live in a town full of good Mexican food, and this little gem in Salem delighted me with surprise. If I'm ever back I will make a point to return.

We had a birthday dinner here for one of our group. The restaurant was non assuming from the outside, but once you walk in, it was very nice. Once we ordered, we received our food very quickly. I had the quesadilla with chicken it was quite good. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food. The birthday girl however did not eat her fish tacos she said they were not appetizing to look at. Other than that, everything was great.

It's been some time since we have eaten at La Margarita and the food was delicious as always and the service very prompt. We had the flan for dessert which was a little disappointing- more like a pudding than a flan. Four of us arrived on a week day at 5 pm, looking forward a quiet dinner and catching up with our friends. We were seated at a booth in the separate back section. Within 15 minutes a group of 6 was seated next to us and within 20 minutes a group of 8 was seated nearby. All hope of our being able to converse was over. We finished our food and went home. This restaurant has been a favorite of ours over the years so we will go back. Anytime we return we will request the quietest area available.

The service was excellent, but the food was bland. Although the spicy salsa that came with the chips made up for that! I don't think I would return as there are other restaurants with better flavors in the area. That's just my preference. Again, the waiter and man at the counter were excellent and food came out quickly.

La Margarita is very tight. It is a cozy space. If you don't mind being packed in to a small space with a lot of others, this is the place to be. The margaritas for two was only OK. The blackberry margarita was very sweet and had very little tequila. The fajita taco salad was very bland and only had about 6 shrimp. All of the base ingredients were very separated. Had to break the shell to be able to mix the beans and rice. The carne a la tampiquena was also pretty under seasoned overall. But the chicken crema enchilada was really good. The housemade tortillas were awesome and you could tell they were fresh. Feel it was a bit over priced for the quality.

Amazing food and service, great staple in the community rice and beans always filled with flavor which is a great surprise for a side!

Prices were great, food was good, service was good. Looking forward to going back again next time I'm in town.

Been here many times as it's a go-to close to work. Went to lunch on the weekend and enjoyed a chimichanga and margarita flight. Clean place with good chips and salsa (always sets the bar for me lol) and fun experience with the flight. Only negative was we got seated in the back section and seemed to get forgotten at times.

Went for lunch today with my co-workers for a bonding session, and I completely forgot to take a picture of the scrumptious enchilada I got because we were so busy chatting and digging into the wonderful food. Had good quick service, and everyone was incredibly friendly! Will definitely be heading back

Great food and service. Every time I'm in Salem I stop by for a great meal. The staff is friendly and always prompt service.

They have grilled fish, which is amazing! It's so healthy! I thought the service was very good and we really had a great time there!

It was our first stop at La Margarita. It was a Friday night in September, dreary and perfect for the warm, inviting, ambiance of the restaurant. The server was either stretch too thin or distracted which we didn't love but her peers did a wonderful job reading our queues and making happen! In all, it was a good experience. Typical Americanized Mexican styled fair with flavor and execution. If you're expecting run-of-the-mill, you'll be pleasantly (enough) surprised. If you're expecting authentic fare in a nicer background, you won't be. Worth a stop in!

Great service, terrible food. I've eaten at this restaurant for 50 years and the has slowly declined. Last night was the worst and I won't go back again. The chicken enchilada left a bad feeling in my stomach until the next day. After ordering my food it came out in 3-4 minutes, and this isn't a fast food restaurant.

No alcohol in their margaritas. Food and service was good. To me, there should be at least a hint of tequila taste in a margarita.

Slow service, the food is ok, great location, the food did not have the flavor I was expecting

Food was pretty mediocre to bad and the service wasn't attentive either. My daughter and wife agree that we won't return.

I recommend La Margarita, My wife ordered the carne asada tacos she said the meat had no flavor but she liked the Black beans ‍ I had the Mole Enchiladas and they came with black beans everything was delicious I just wished they would put a little more Mole on the enchiladas there wasn't enough But I like their friendly service and the food come to your table wicked Fast!!!

I've been at La Margarita about a couple dozen times and I've always left satisfied. The service is super fast and you always have warm, fresh-made tortilla chips at your table with unlimited refills. Even when the restaurant is busy, the food comes out faster than you think and it never looks rushed, it's always excellent. I've never had a waiter or waitress I didn't feel like tipping generously. We've always been greeted with a smile from start to finish and the eh might have the best service of any local restaurant I've been. I can't recommend it enough.

Amazing food, insanely fast takeout, and super nice staff. We love this place, it is our go to Mexican restaurant.

We ate here for the first time on March 17(going to ACDC tribute band next door at the Elsinore)for our anniversary. The atmosphere is electric on a Friday night, people bustling here & there; the food was fantastic, drinks were great, service was superb(thanks for the salsa refills)and for an old disabled guy like me, the bathrooms were clean, spacious and nice. We were able to park right across the street, too.

Good food, great drinks! We had our rehearsal dinner here and I was very impressed with the waitress! We had about 25 people in their banquet room and only 1 ( yes 1) server and she was amazing!! Drinks came on time, food was hot and really good. Definitely check this place out if you're looking for good Mexican food while you're in Salem! The only reason I didn't give it a 5 star is because they had no music in their banquet room. Definitely needs a sound system in their for peoples parties. If they tell you they have speakers you can connect to... well, let's just say it was the smallest speaker I've ever seen! I could fit it in my pocket. No joke! Not something you could use for a party! Just keep in mind, if you are going to use their banquet room and you want to have some sort of music playing... bring your own Bluetooth speaker. Their regular dining area is very nice and has atmosphere.

It's the only place we'll go in this city for Mexican food. Never been disappointed with the food, service or price.

The food and service at La Margarita are always great! It's definitely the best restaurant for Mexican food in Salem.

The food is different since Pedro sold it. We had the Nacho Supreme for years. Its not the same flavor, more bland. The mesquite chicken is not as flavorful. It felt like some of the staff was rushing us out? Maybe it's just us ,I don't know.

This is my go-to place for Mexican food. They have excellent choices and reasonable prices. Above that, their food has always been fresh, well made, and delicious. I've sat inside pre pandemic and have ordered a few times after. Their customer service is always spot on. They're friendly and attentive. Also, post pandemic, they wear masks and adhere to social distancing. When I have ordered for pickup, even when they're busy, it's ready fast and made fresh. My favorites are the taco salad and the grande burrito. That burrito comes with three meats with rice and beans stuffed inside and smothered in sauces. Yum!

We still aren't really going out to restaurants or much more than necessary grocery and hardware store type runs but we have started doing a little takeout and delivery again. La Margarita has long been one of our favorite places to go eat as a family and to meet friends for lunch or dinner. Prior to all of the shutdowns, they had also become one of Grubhub go to spots. When we hit the wall on what to make for dinner last night we decided to give La Margarita a call. We really appreciated that they are using their own staff to do the delivery right now and that we could phone in our order, making it easy to request our meal as we would if we were in the restaurant and not with the limitations found when order through a third party food delivery service. We live a bit out of town and the food arrived so quickly it was still hot...not just warmish. We are definitely fans!

First time patron off a recommendation from a worker at the Fussy Duck and so glad we try it. Great service. Great atmosphere. I asked for a recommendation from the waiter and got the taco salad with chicken. Sooooo good. The others in my group were also very impressed with how fast our food came out and how great and fresh everything tasted.

First time eating at this restaurant. Ordered the Carne Asada la Margarita, wow what flavor! Cooked to medium perfection, juicy, and melt in your mouth tender. I wasn't expecting a lot beyond basic Mexican food and this was quite the surprise. Very friendly and attentive service. Dinged 1 star because they brought me flour tortillas instead of corn and they were a bit frugal with the chips and salsa (tho they brought refills). Will definitely return!

It's ok. The salsa was bland and the rice had no flavor. I ordered the Flautas and was disappointed with the shredded beef. Someone at my table ordered the El Butrito. It was a soupy mess and the red sauce seemed off. However, the service was lovely and the restaurant was clean.

All was very good! If you love all food Mexican and hate stale chips or something little that just taints the whole meal sour...you'll love these guys! I am making them a new "go to"...It was a nice surprise.

Like wow a Mexican rest. That doesn't smother cheese on everything and call it Mexican! We have passed by this place for 15 years and never stopped in. Great margaritas excellent fajitas fresh salsa and tortillas This is my place from now on for Mexican

Fantastic Mexican food! Get the queso. We all came for an authentic Mexican dinner and everything was perfect despite how "extra" our group was. Pro tip: get the margarita on the rocks - its got the punch.

If you have an hour for lunch during the work week, stop in because they will get you fed and back to work on time. If you are there for dinner, they will still get your food out quickly! We have been eating at "La Marg" for about 5 years: always drawn back for the fresh tortillas (made fresh in the restaurant). The staff are always attentive and the service is quick. The Fajitas Trio is a favorite, well spiced chicken and shrimp round out the meat selection for the fajitas. Pro tip: If you can not handle some heat ask them to bring out mild salsa! The salsa they bring to the table with chips is spicy.

Excellent food and service. Large menu and conveniently located downtown. Reservations are available.

I must say, I really enjoyed my meal here! It has a friendly chain restaurant vibe but it's not chain. It's a "safe" place to bring people who don't like to step too far outside their comfort zone. It gave me the impression that it's super Mexican American, so I'm not sure how "authentic" it was, but SO good! Awesome service. *limitless warm chips and salsa* We were at risk of filling up on chips/salsa as we waited for food. Enchilada suizas - smothered in cheese and cream sauce Seafood molcajate with hot fresh tortillas - super good! It was one of those things where the flavors blended into each other so well, was hard to decipher what's in it and at the same time, I just wanted to eat it nonstop. Passion fruit and regular margarita - Not strong but yummy yummy! They used mixes so it wasn't "gourmet fresh" but who cares?! We came on a Saturday night, the space is large so the wait time was minimal. The odd thing is that the bathroom is a shared space within the building. With my lack of directional sense, I entered the bathroom through the restaurant and ended up on the street when I exited. HA

Best Mexican food in Salem - authentic with high quality ingredients. It's also located in a cool spot in historic downtown. Service is always friendly, quick and considerate. I recommend you try it out soon.

Last week I picked up a takeout order from La Margarita for u UberEats customer and the inside of this restaurant smelled so good, I couldn't stop thinking about how good it must taste. Tonight, I decided to give them a try and I was very disappointed. I ate a 2 steak taco meal with beans and rice. The steak had no seasoning, the beans and rice didn't have flavor either. The chips didn't even have flavor. It cost $30for 2 plates with a $2 tip. I really thought it was going to be good. Very disappointed. Save your money.

The service is so good! Food never disapoints. I love this place.

Being in Salem after suggesting that I was feeling Mexican for lunch my friend said that we should give La Margarita a shot. The atmosphere was nice and we were seated quickly. The staff was friendly and attentive. I always have one go to item if on the menu and that is the pollo ala crema. The plate looked great, but the only thing that was disappointing was the portion size. There could've been a little more for the price. The flavors were good, a bit different from other places I go to, but not bad. The flour tortillas were also homemade and nice to have. I would definitely say that a repeat visit wouldn't be out of the question.