Eric R.
Yelp
LaLupita is located on Atkinson Street, on the grounds of the long-defunct Joseph's Auction Yard, in a building that is a little worse for wear on the outside. As of this writing, the restaurant has only been open a week! You may recall Maron's Restaurant, now closed, and has morphed into LaLupita Mexican Food.
As you enter the restaurant, you'll be greeted with the counter, along with a white board that has the limited menu. You place your order at the counter, but like a sit-down restaurant, you sit down, and when ready, your order is brought to you, and you pay at the end of your meal. LaLupita seems to be very proud of their refried beans, as there is a sign at the counter, with a cartoon bean character, promoting the delicious refried beans the restaurant serves. The word "beans" is also part of their email address!
As you enter the restaurant, you're greeted with a white board, which serves as the menu. The restaurant doesn't have a printed menu. I asked a staff member, and I was told they plan to occasionally change the menu selections, so it's easy to make changes on a white board. This is definitely "old school," but it makes sense and it works for me.
There are actually two dining rooms, separated by the order counter, and the kitchen behind the counter. The dining rooms are spacious, clean, sparsely decorated, but recently painted. By the looks of the dining room, I'd almost think I was in Mexico. I LOVE it!!
The birria was absolutely amazing, as it was juicy, tender and flavorful, without being spicy. In fact, this is probably the best birria that I've enjoyed north of the border. This fine Mexican diner doesn't skimp, as the portion is very ample. Birria, which is a goat stew, is a very popular dish in northern Mexico, and you'll find it in a bowl, as a thick stew, as a topping for tacos, or on a plate, such as I enjoyed today. Like menudo, there is a long preparation time, and birria is normally only available on weekends, which works, since LaLupita is only open on weekends. If you've never had the pleasure to enjoy birria, I'd recommend you stop by and enjoy.
I've never enjoyed Mexican rice prepared like LaLupita's before, as it included small cubes of carrots, which added a unique taste. The rice was perfectly cooked, tasted wonderful, and complimented the meal.
LaLupita prides themselves on their refried beans, and I can understand why, as they're simply amazing. I have reason to believe they are cooked in lard, the way it's done in Mexico, which gives the beans an amazing taste and texture. If you're a member of the "health police," you might ask Sylvia, or one of the other staff members about the beans. I have a hunch if you preferred, they'd be happy to substitute "pot beans," as that's where refried beans begin. Whatever the case, I absolutely LOVED the beans!
The amazing meal was rounded out with a stack of warm, toasted corn tortillas, presented in a tortilla dish, wrapped in a towel, just like you'd fine in a Tijuana loncheria. It is interesting to note the yellow and red plastic squeeze bottles, as you'd think they have mustard and ketchup, which would be totally out of place in a Mexican diner. The yellow bottle contains green sauce, and the red sauce is in the red bottle. I tried a little of each, and they're both delicious and flavorful, and I'd rate the "heat factor" as medium-mild. If you're at all sensitive to spicy food, I'd recommend trying a drop or two before making a commitment.
Even though it was a little past 10 in the morning, I grabbed an icy cold Modelo beer from the cooler, as there is nothing in my book that goes better with fine Mexican food than a cold Mexican beer.
The only oddity I noted was that I didn't get a bowl of tortilla chips and salsa as an appetizer, as is the norm in most Mexican restaurants. I didn't bother to ask the staff, as it really didn't worry me. As an aside, near the end of my meal, I was offered another stack of corn tortillas, but I declined, as I was nearly full.
This was a delicious meal from a great restaurant! LaLupita Mexican Food is an absolutely wonderful restaurant, as the food is delicious, the staff is super friendly, the prices are reasonable, and the location is great, as it's just across the street from Denio's. On weekends, when you're in the mood for delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine, be sure to pay a visit to LaLupita Mexican Food, as they're a welcome addition to the Roseville dining scene.
Don't be fooled by the shabby exterior of the building, or the plain dining room, as this restaurant is 5-star all the way! The food is authentic Mexican and amazing, the staff are super friendly,and the price is reasonable. Highly recommended by me, a dedicated Roseville "foodie!"
