Afshin A.
Yelp
A Great Meal at La Vecindad
We were excited to enjoy a Mexican dinner, so we started searching for a new restaurant. My friend found La Vecindad online, and we all agreed to go there.
La Vecindad is located in Las Vegas's Historic Commercial Center District, an area currently undergoing significant renovations. We managed to find a parking spot right in front and walked inside. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and has an authentic ambiance. The dining area has two sections, with a bar on one side.
La Vecindad began in September 2016 as a small food stand at a Las Vegas swap meet, founded by Raúl Martínez from Toluca, Mexico, and his wife, Vanessa Barreat from Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. While working full-time jobs during the week, they dedicated their weekends to sharing authentic Mexican cuisine with the community.
In 2018, with strong community support, they opened their first official restaurant location. Initially named Pico de Gallo, they rebranded to La Vecindad in 2020 due to trademark issues. Despite facing challenges, including a two-month closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, La Vecindad expanded and gained recognition, earning "Best of Las Vegas" honors for four consecutive years. It was also featured on the Cooking Channel's "Food Paradise" episode titled "Get in My Deli."
There were four of us for dinner. My friend ordered Menudo (tripe stew), and my dad chose the Milanesa Plate, which features breaded beef served with rice, fries, salad, and handmade corn tortillas. My mom and I opted for the Carne en su Jugo, and we hit the jackpot!
Carne en su Jugo is a delicious stew made with small chunks of beef simmered in tomatillo sauce, mixed with pinto beans and crispy bacon, served with handmade corn tortillas. Our server mentioned that this dish is a family recipe handed down from the owner's grandmother. I'm not sure if that's true, but the stew was fantastic! My friend felt his Menudo could have been cooked longer, and my dad said his meal was okay, but my mom and I were very pleased with our choice. To finish, I had flan for dessert, which was also delightful.
The service was excellent, and the food was very good. I'm definitely planning to return next time I'm in Vegas.