Tu y Yo

Mexican restaurant · Somerville

Tu y Yo

Mexican restaurant · Somerville

3

858 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144

Photos

Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by infatuation.com
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null
Tu y Yo by null

Highlights

Authentic Mexican food with slow-cooked dishes and unique flavors  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

858 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144 Get directions

tuyyorestaurant.com

$20–30 · Menu

Information

Static Map

858 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144 Get directions

+1 617 623 5411
tuyyorestaurant.com
tuyyomexicanrestaurant

$20–30 · Menu

Features

payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations

Last updated

Oct 10, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater

Boston’s Top Tacos

"Somerville’s hit Oaxacan taqueria brings some of Mexico’s most fun ingredients to Boston. The menu pops with enigmatic flavors of nopales in green mole, chopped pork tenderloin in peanut sauce, and an appetizer portion of tiny, crunchy tacos de chapulines stuffed with grasshoppers and chiles." - Celina Colby, Eater Staff

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-tacos-boston
View Postcard for Tu y Yo
@eater

Legendary Cuban Restaurant El Oriental de Cuba Shuts Down After Nearly 30 Years | Eater Boston

"Run by chef-owner Adolfo Alvarado, Somerville’s acclaimed Mexican restaurant Tu Y Yo is referenced as the chef’s existing, well-regarded restaurant and the source of the owner opening a second location." - Erika Adams

https://boston.eater.com/2023/10/18/23922767/el-oriental-de-cuba-boston-closure
View Postcard for Tu y Yo
@infatuation

Tu y Yo - Review - Somerville - Boston - The Infatuation

"Everyone should start their meal at Tu y Yo with the tamale combo plate. It comes with five different mini tamales with fillings like chicken and sweet corn, and it will brighten your day. After that, anything’s fair game - the tinga poblana, the pescado en mole verde, or the pastel de nopal are especially perfect for those times when condensation is falling sideways from the sky. Tu y Yo is open for indoor and outdoor dining, as well as takeout and delivery." - Joel Ang

https://www.theinfatuation.com/boston/reviews/tu-y-yo
View Postcard for Tu y Yo

Xiao Tan

Google
My favorite Mexican restaurant in the Boston area! They offer elevated versions of familiar dishes but also have unique ingredients and combinations. All the dishes and flavors were superb! Staff was also very friendly and helpful! Love this place!

Salokya Sarira

Google
The Chicken Breast in Poblano Chili Sauce (Pechuga en Salsa de Chile Poblano), Arrachera Mexicana, the Green Enchiladas, Vegetarian Tamales, Mexican Street Corn, Flan, Sangria, and the sides of homemade Black Beans are delicious and definitely the standout dishes! They’re incredibly flavorful and authentically prepared. It’s definitely the best Mexican restaurant in Boston that’s pretty cheap. The Tacos de Birria and Burgos Rancheros (offered during brunch) are other great choices! However, the second time I got the chicken breast in poblano sauce it wasn’t as great: the chicken was overcooked and dry and there was very little sauce. It was also a bit too salty. Their Tinga Poblana (shredded chicken in a chipotle sauce) was a bit bland and forgettable. I’ve also gotten the Salmon Criolla main dish. It comes with 2 shrimp cakes (super good!), rice, homemade beans, and salmon in a creamy red pepper sauce. This sauce was pretty good, but you could tell the salmon wasn’t that fresh as it had a slight fishy odor.

Paul Zhang

Google
Good food, not cheap but not too expensive. Strong flavors. Really flavorful peppers. Overcooked meat. Asked for medium rare, got well done.

Danille Calvo

Google
Delicious authentic Mexican food. I had the best café de oya in the Boston area. They offer beer and wine as well.

Toby Brown

Google
Great food. Very attentive service. They were understanding and accommodating of my partner's dairy free diet requirement.

Scott Thompson

Google
Starting with a positive: Sangria was strong. That helped. When we left this place, my date said, "Well, I think we can safely say that was one of the most disgusting places we've ever been on a date." Not a great place to take a date fellas .... If someone told me it was actually Chilean, I'd ponder the thought longer than calling it Mexican. Food tasted more like top-notch dog treats. Chicken, orange juice and tomato sauce? When we received our plates, we were surprised how unlike the menu description they were. Margaritas were unfinishable. Rice tasted several days to weeks old. Portions were lackluster. Service was friendly and amenable. Could tell wait staff was trying, but needed better ingredients and kitchen prep to back them up. At half the price, this would be a solid place for a college lunch.

Mel

Google
Great food at an affordable price! The fish tacos were my favorite, and my partner loved the birria tacos. The tamale sampler is definitely worth getting as well - fun to try a few different flavors. The staff was also exceptionally friendly and helpful

Kk Aoki Izu

Google
This was our first time eating at Tu Y Yo and absolutely won’t be our last. As a Californian, I’ve had my fair share of stellar Mexican food, but this place was phenomenal. We ordered tamales (5), soup, a carnitas plate, cactus juice, and avocado cheesecake. My gosh. You know a place is bomb when all you want to eat is their rice and beans. The tamales were extremely moist, the soup was flavorful, the carnitas was tender, and the dessert was rich and not too sweet. All their food was fresh, delicious, and very authentic tasting. Will absolutely be back! Also their in-house hot sauce is extremely good.
google avatar

Barbara B.

Yelp
Cute and small neighborhood place where we were the only guests at 6pm on a Saturday night. The staff were friendly and accommodating. The chips and salsa and guacamole that we started with were good. Don and I split the chicken enchiladas and they were good but not delicious. Others in our party ordered the fish tacos and the avocado tacos and both looked amazing. They were much more impressive looking than the enchiladas dish. Our friends love this place so maybe we hit it on the wrong night or ordered the wrong food. We were content but I couldn't claim "it was the best!"
google avatar

Woo K.

Yelp
Honestly, it's a cute little spot. And the food was great! The service was top notch. We went on a taco Tuesday, but definitely one of the better taco Tuesday spots I've been too. The Birria consume was sooooooooo flavorful and perfect consistency. Seriously would love to come back easily. The service was so top notch. They were seriously on point. Loved it.

F. K.

Yelp
Authentic Mexican food. Brunch was very thoughtfully prepared. Tortillas were homemade.

Sam D.

Yelp
Everything was so amazing I couldn't recommend this place enough. It's so wildly underrated. Food and service are incredible. Had the vegetarian tamales, fried avocado tacos, and churros. So, so tasty. Can't wait to come back.
google avatar

Arto A.

Yelp
Very good food, nice quiet spot. Plus Trump got shot while we were there, so that was interesting.
google avatar

Shani C.

Yelp
Had a few meals here including takeout but also dine-in. Lived down the way from this place for ten years so you'd think we'd eaten here a lot but no. And I'm surprised and a little mad that I didn't know it was this good. For some reason I remember a sign from twenty years ago stating that they did not and would not serve tacos? Anyway, the fish tacos were perfect! The birria tacos were perfect. I really liked the enchiladas. The squash in pipian sauce was super interesting! The tamales are good. I'm really excited to rediscover this place.
google avatar

Patsy C.

Yelp
Wonderful food as always! Chicken flautas along with chips and guacamole were well made and well priced
google avatar

Tony S.

Yelp
Food is outrageously good, the service is friendly and knowledgeable and the ambiance is unpretentious. This eatery has been in this location for over 20 years. And in those years the food has remained remarkably good. Not your typical TexMex restaraunt, this is a truly authentic Mexican restaurant with traditional dishes. Always worth the drive for their food. Worth the try, and yes think outside the your comfort zone and try something new. You will be surprised how god it is!
google avatar

Sarah A.

Yelp
We don't often eat grasshoppers, but when we do, they are from Tú y Yo in Powder House Square. Also, my first time trying cuitlacoche (Mexican truffle also known as corn smut, an edible fungus, considered a delicacy) which was stuffed inside the mini cheese quesadilla. It was quite tasty! Great food, décor and service!
google avatar

Allie S.

Yelp
Decided to give this place a try on Door Dash and ordered the Birria Tacos and the Sweet Plantains. Everything came fast and well packaged. The birria tacos were delicious and the plantains were fresh and very sweet. Would definitely want to give them a try for dine in if I'm ever in the area.
google avatar

Corey F.

Yelp
Service was pretty slow especially for how empty the place was when we got there. The decorations and overall ambiance was nice , but I there were warmer lights to have a bit of a cozier vibe. The employees were really nice and also helped us decide! The tacos were great and the green and red sauce that we asked to put on them were also very flavorful with a good level of spice! I loved the fish tacos and the chipotle sauce and other toppings on it. Made for a really flavorful bite. The Horchata drink was really good! Could have had a bit more cinnamon, but I still enjoyed it a lot. The Carmel filled Churros were really nice too, although there definitely should have been more for the price. 4 small little things. Overall the place was good, but the price was expensive. $3 to $5 dollars per taco is on the really steep side for tacos for me especially when I've had comparable for a bit more affordable prices. If you're going for tacos alone, 4 wasn't enough for me and I had to order 4 more and was still hungry again not too long after so it really adds up quickly.
google avatar

Mark T.

Yelp
\When it comes to critiquing something authentic, I often struggle. I want to give an unbiased perspective and not talk unnecessary smack about another culture's cuisine. Perhaps the best way to describe the food here is it seems to be more what you'd eat in a Mexican home than a Mexican restaurant (but what do I know?) It was a close one between three and four stars, but I granted the fourth due to the desserts, value for money, and benefit-of-the-doubt pursuant the above. I ordered a Sope with Chorizo, Tacos de Birria, and an Impossible and Cafe de Olla for dessert. Sope was very pleasant, but nothing to write home about. The ingredients were in balance and fresh. The chorizo was alright, though I would have liked just a little more flavor-fireworks. To their credit, they provide two house-made hot sauces on the side, and at least one of these things is FIRE! The Tacos echoed the impression I got from the Sope. These were tortillas with cheese and protein, which you could add veggies to or dip into the consommé at your discretion. Customizing is fun and all, but again, it lacks those fireworks amazingly seasoned food has. The impossible cake was delicious, as was the Cafe de Olla. If you've never had the latter, absolutely get it! Try not to burn your tastebuds off too much with the hot sauces, or hot coffee will be a little painful to consume.
google avatar

Janet D.

Yelp
Made a reservation with Google assist and table was ready for us when arrived. Service was good and the server made good recommendations. We tried 2 new things - the sweet plantain empanada and the avocado cheesecake - Interesting flavors. Chicken enchiladas and margaritas were good.
google avatar

Al M.

Yelp
Thinking about early dinner, and wanting something a little different we decided on this delightful, authentic, real Mexican restaurant! Bright, open, vibrant colors, and fortunate that the lady who welcomed us in, was courteous, attentive, and professional in every aspect of hospitality! We felt special right from the get go. The menu was definitive in describing the food since this is not a tex-mex joint, and some of the menu items were a bit unfamiliar. I ended up with Caldo, a vegetable soup, and Carnitas. My partner ordered the tinga, and the food was delicious! Two days later I wanted to come by early just for the soup. We had a wonderful time, our waitperson was wonderful and we are both looking forward to dining there again. Try it, you'll love it!

Wilmer M.

Yelp
I don't write many reviews but this place deserves the time it takes for me to write this. The service was amazing! The staff is so charismatic and attentive. So knowledgeable of the food and ready to recommend it. The food was Authentic!!! So delicious! From the tacos the Birria to the horchata! It was one of the best horchatas I had in my life! The prices were reasonable for the quality that you get. It is such a cozy place to bring friends, dates, or family. I can't wait to be back!
google avatar

Sarah O.

Yelp
What a great catering order!! I ordered this via ezCater for a team event for work. I was super worried about meeting all the diet accommodations and left quite a few special instructions. But, everything came as requested! I ordered 2 full trays of tacos (chicken and carnitas), half tray of beans, half tray of rice, and a small order of chips and guacamole. The tacos arrived pre-filled with meat in corn tortillas nicely lined up. They also provided a red and green salsa in bottles (much better than spooning from a container!), limes, onion, and cilantro. The ingredients were fresh! The team really enjoyed the food. They also went an extra step and packaged 2 tacos separately that I required for a vegetarian option. Plus, they were super nice on the phone when I asked about food allergies and specifics on how things would arrive. Tip: 24 tacos in a full tray and 12 tacos in a half tray. Beans and rice go far, half trays are great!
google avatar

Jacob B.

Yelp
Adolfo is an amazing waiter. Try the Habiscus margarita, very refreshing. I would put this place under "traditional mexican." Very happy its right near our house we had an amazing meal.

Eleanor L.

Yelp
Delicious food, reasonably priced drinks. So lovely! Will definitely return. Service was solid. Ambiance was good!
google avatar

James Z.

Yelp
Finally tried Tu Y Yo after a few years of living in the Davis Square/Powder House area and I'm so glad I did! I haven't eaten at the restaurant yet, but have ordered takeout a couple times now. They seem to be very fast at making orders, and so far all the food my roommates and I have ordered has been very good! The tacos de birria are excellent! Very cheesy, the consommé dipping sauce is delicious too. It wasn't as oily as some birria tacos come with, which I preferred. The Empanadas de Platano Macho y Queso are pretty good, they are plantain turnovers with cheese in the middle. Mine were a little bland overall, but I still enjoyed them. I don't think I'd order them again though. The Carnitas are very good! Super flavorful, very moist and tender. The entree comes with rice and black beans, plus three tortillas (they forgot to include salsa once, which the menu said it comes with) it's very filling, I was able to have half for leftovers. You can also order the carnitas regular or spicy, I highly suggest you stick with the regular! I got the spicy once and it was a little too citrus forward in flavor for my taste. The regular is the go-to it seems from some other reviews. Overall, this is a great Mexican restaurant from what I've had so far and I can't wait to try more, and dine-in soon.
google avatar

Sarah O.

Yelp
While I like the name and we had great and friendly service, my admiration for Tu y Yo ends there. * The Empanadas de Platano were a solid 4.5 stars * The quesadillas were dry and tasteless-- one filled with shredded beef and the other with squash blossoms, which I could not taste * The Flautas de Pollo were dry and inedible for me-- I took one bite but could not be cajoled into eating more * The main dish, the mushroom crepe (Crepa de Cuitalocoche), for $18, was a solid 3 stars. * The sangria reminded me of spiked cider at a fall party (not a bad thing) and for only $6.95 was not bad. * The guac just tasted like fresh smashed avocado and the chips that accompanied it were a bit hard for my liking. I'm mostly disappointed that for two people we spent $40 each (including tip) for a less than satisfying meal. I would go back for those Empanadas de Platano, but maybe sit at the bar with a drink instead of go through the process of ordering more subpar dishes. Overall, I will be going to Rudy's for my next Mexican craving in Davis Square.
google avatar

Gauravi P.

Yelp
Come here for lunch. Dinner is a bit blasé. The food is very good though and in the direction of authentic Mexican food. We came here for dinner. The restaurant had dark, mood lighting. The restaurant decor was minimal and older but still festive with orange painted walls, red colored tablecloth and framed pictures. There was no music being played so if the restaurant had only a few guests, you could be eating in silence. We were greeted by a young server who seemed less engaged. I ordered: 1.) Sangria (3 stars) - Margaritas are not offered here for some reason. I think this restaurant only has a beer and wine license. 2.) Guacamole and chips (5 stars) 3.) Indio Vestido (5 stars) The guacamole here was very, very good. It was the perfect color, fresh and so creamy. This is probably one of the best guacamole I have had. The Indio Vestido was very good as well and more of an authentic dish that was intriguing and satisfying to try as well as eye pleasing to look at! All in all, even though the food was very good, the service and atmosphere was lacking. If I do come back here it will be for lunch to experience more of a lively restaurant atmosphere. But, I probably won't be back because I like margaritas with my Mexican food.
google avatar

Hubert H.

Yelp
Fairly decent Mexican place. The presentation of the dishes was nice and mostly artful. Started off with the fried avocado - well balance of slaw with crispy fried avocado. Avocado was super fresh, and aioli sauce was smooth and creamy. Most of the tamales in the 5-tamale set were excellent, esp. the pork, chicken and corn. The coconut one was sweet, perhaps a bit too sweet for my taste, especially for an appetizer. The salmon Criolla was decent - I wish the accompanying sauce was a bit more flavorful; in general I think a bit more heat, spiciness could be infuse into the flavoring of the dishes. Mostly a bit mild for my taste. The salmon was somewhat overdone, but perhaps that is how people usually prefer it here? The accompanying cakes were a bit small and though labelled as distinct cakes (shrimp and chipotle-potato) they tasted extremely similar to me. The pipian paskal, a chayote squash with pipian sauce, was fairly delicious and interesting as well. Again, would have preferred stronger flavors (it took me a while to taste out the peanuts, and I would have liked to taste more ancho chile) but all in all a decent dish. The squash itself was fresh and cooked to perfection, soft but with some bite. The churros, fried-dough pastry, ended the meal. Super sweet and sugary, with a nice chocolate dipping sauce. The outer texture was a tad bit tough, but overall quite decent. Excellent service. Will revisit, maybe try some new things. Be sure to support your local businesses!
google avatar

Andres R.

Yelp
We had previously enjoyed this small Mexican restaurant before the pandemic, while visiting the Medford campus of Tufts University. We had enjoyed drinks and appetizers, including their difficult-to-find Tacos de Chapulines (grilled grasshopper tacos), which are mlni crunchy tacos stuffed with chapulines and chiles, and which were quite tasty and a culinary adventure for us. This time we enjoyed a full lunch. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and bilingual in English/Spanish. We began with a round of ice cold beers (Corona and Negra Modelo) and we shared a generous bowl of Caldo Tlalpeño, a hearty chicken soup with a smoky spicy dried chipotle pepper, garbanzos,rice, cheese, herbs, spices, and topped with fresh avocado slices. This a delicious and satisfying soup. We then enjoyed entrees with another round of beers ( Corona, Dos Equis Amber). My girlfriend had the Chile Relleno de Vegetales, a poblano pepper stuffed with vegetables, cheese, covered in guajillo and red pepper sauce, and with a side of steamed spinach. I had the Cochinita Pibil, shredded pork tenderloin marinated in a sauce made with achiote, orange, garlic, onions and spices. For dessert we shared a plate of churros with chocolate fudge dip, and I had their Café de Olla. The prices are reasonable and the service is impeccable.
google avatar

Devon K.

Yelp
I want to start off by saying that Tu Y Yo has the best sangria I've ever had. I've travelled to countries with some of the best wine, and I'm still obsessed with their sangria. Then again, I also like fruity/sweet drinks so if you do as well get the red sangria carafe, and thank me later. Tu Y Yo is located right in Davis Sqaure by Tufts so it's super convenient to get to. The intereior is very cute, the right touch of casual but also makes for a great date night spot. Onto the food, we started off with the Empanadas de Platano Macho y Queso. I'm a sucker for fried plantains, and these ones were filled with cheese and super good. I could eat jus plates and plates of these. I had the Chile Relleno en Nogada which is a Poblano pepper stuffed with ground beef, almonds, raisins, apples, pineapples and peaches; covered in a walnut and cinnamon sauce topped with pomegranate seeds and cilantro. This might be one fo the best things I've ever eaten. The beef and sauce were extremely flavorful and had just a hint of sweetness to it. I couldn't have asked for a better dish. What I love about Tu Y Yo is that it's authentic Mexican food. I believe for lunch they offer burritos and they do have taco Tuesday, but the food you eat isn't going to be your general tex-mex, it's real Mexican food your abuela would cook for you. If you're looking to try authentic food and have a fabulous meal, I would more than recommend this place.

Sam H.

Yelp
One of the best Mexican restaurants around! The staff is always so nice and friendly. The guac and homemade sangria are delicious. And every food item we've ordered has been amazing. Highly recommend coming here!
google avatar

Howie H.

Yelp
Came here for a weekday dinner back in July. Started with a couple of drinks. Ordered a couple of appetizers tamales & chips with guac. Both were fresh and tasty. Entrees included a shrimp dish and a meat dish. Forgot the name (see pics), both were fantastic. The flavors were balanced, the shrimps were cooked right, and included beans and rice. I would definitely be back to Tu Y Yo when I'm in the area.
google avatar

Stacey H.

Yelp
I have frequented this place for years, because it's small and authentic, and the food is good. I'm sorry to say though, that I will never come here again. I ordered about $70 of takeout and when we got to the restaurant they said - just another 20-30 minutes because they were busy. Fine, we waited outside. 40 minutes goes by and I go inside again and they say "sorry, we don't have your order". Now it's been around 90 minutes since we ordered. Then I look into the kitchen and none of the cooks are wearing masks effectively. The masks are either around their necks or under their noses and it's so hot in there that they're all sweaty as well. So no masks being worn and you're making food while clearly sweating and expelling lots of aerosols?!? Guys... you are handling food and you are not protecting anyone with how you are wearing your masks. Please get it together so people can feel safe eating food from your place.
google avatar

Divyashree R.

Yelp
The margarita and the fried avocado taco were awesome. The enchiladas and fajitas were decent. The customer service was good. They wore masks at all time and seating is limited now.
google avatar

Sakina B.

Yelp
A melody of flavors linger on my palette as I write this review. Never tried a tamale? The menu features 5 distinctive types of vegetarian tamales including unique wrapping styles as an appetizer. My husband who tends to be anti corn on the cob delighted with me over the complexity of such a simple side. The enchilada and mole entrees tasted freshly made without being laden with fat but rather elevated by a master orchestrator of Mexican cuisine. The tortilla soup featured chunks of avocado and queso. We didn't venture into desserts. Reasonably priced considering the leftovers. Beef tamales allude me dear Texas, but not bad not bad at all.
google avatar

Brownstone Betty -.

Yelp
I ordered takeout, from here ,for the first time. I got the chicken enchiladas with green sauce, a salad and the steak sopes. Everything was delicious. The enchiladas had yummy shredded chunks of chicken in it. The green sauce was the best that I have ever tasted. If you are thinking about it, I would definitely give this place a try. I will be ordering from here again.
google avatar

Sim P.

Yelp
Starting off with how sweet the man behind the bar was when I came to do my pick up order. He was very welcoming and kind. I have to say this is the best birria tacos I've ever had thus far. I did takeout also of a mango margarita by the bottle and it was delicious. The first bottle I took home the cork part broke in the bottle and I came back and the owner was more than happy to make a second bottle. I was a little embarrassed coming back but he was very kind about it. I've finally found a spot close to home with great birria I can't wait to go back.

David H.

Yelp
Excellent food and service! Delicious food. We love the Birria tacos, avocado tacos, guacamole, black beans...truly authentic!
google avatar

Jerry M.

Yelp
Better than ever! Just ate a delicious lunch and learned that Chef Adolfo, who has been the chef here for a dozen years, is now also the new owner! I tried the fried avocado and the fish tacos. Wonderful! Beautiful new interior too. I've added a photo of the new lunch menu An incredible find for lunch while visiting Tufts University! It is a only a 1/2 mile walk from campus. Outstanding food and value! We had the enchiladas (see photo). All lunch items are $6. Can't wait to go again! Thank you Doug for recommending we try it
google avatar

Ziyan C.

Yelp
We were getting dinner with a group of students from Tufts and needed a place that was within walking distance and a) would take reservations, b) had room for 18 people, and c) could keep us in a spending range of $15-$20 per person. Between most restaurants around Davis not taking reservations at all and a couple that I contacted who never called me back as promised, Tu Y Yo ended up being my ONLY option. I wasn't sure about the quality of food, but we all ended up enjoying our meal! I really liked my sope but was less impressed with the carnitas; I would go to Tu Y Yo to try another dinner entree. RESERVATIONS Made about 1 week in advance for a group of 18, for 5:30pm on a Saturday. They weren't too busy and had our table all set up for us. THE SERVICE Excellent. They efficiently handled our large group's orders, I felt like the food came out without too much of a wait, and kept our waters filled. MUST-HAVES The Sope appetizer, with Bistec! APPETIZERS * Sope w/ Bistec (small hand stretched corn dough topped w/ beans, fresh cheese, onions, lettuce & bistec/longaniza/zucchini/mushrooms. $3.75) - 4.5 stars The sope is more of a fried dough than others I've had, and it was amazing! It had a nice thick crisp all around and was clearly made immediately before serving, still with that fresh crunch straight from the stovetop. The bistec was delicious. There was a bit much lettuce on top, impossible to eat without a bunch of it spilling on your plate, but I still really liked this. PORK * Carnitas (slow cooked pork, simmered in spices, lard & orange juice. Accompanied with salsas & tortillas. $15.95) - 3.5 stars This also came with black beans, which were cooked just right. Overall great! To be nit-picky, I wished for a little more complex flavors in the pork. It was a bit simple with black beans and rice, and the salsas were crazy spicy so I could only add a little bit. The tortillas were the slightest bit stale.
google avatar

Efraim S.

Yelp
So good - the mexican food is next level. Interesting flavors and dishes you wouldnt get at the average joint. the plantains are stupendous and all the sauces have lots of flavor.
google avatar

Augusto T.

Yelp
Delicious and authentic From the moment I opened the menu at Ty y Yo, I knew I was in for a treat. The menu features authentic regional Mexican dishes as well as some unique family recipes. When people outside of Mexico think mole, they usually think of mole Poblano, but here they had lots of different regional varieties. I enjoyed the green fish mole, the chicken mole special, and the pork with poblano peppers. The stuff peppers with ground beef and pomegranate seeds was a favorite at the table. The dishes are served with no frills and beans and rice on the side. While not the definitive Mexican restaurant in terms of mind-blowing flavors, in the Boston area there's really not too many places like this. They definitely get extra points for authenticity. How was I unaware of this place for so long? I'll definitely be back to try more.
google avatar

Juliana N.

Yelp
Birria tacos are the best around and everything is honestly great. Great spot for quick and tasty Mexican!
google avatar

Denise M.

Yelp
One of the better Mexican restaurants in the area. I've been coming here for the past seven years off and on and realized no review. Well the time has come, let's review. The establishment is simple and authentic if not on the rustic side. The table cloth is paper which if you have children or like to color you are in luck while you wait they have crayons to keep you occupied. My most recent trip in I ordered the Tinga Sirloin. It was absolutely delicious. It comes with beans and rice but I asked if sautéed spinach could be added and they complied without hesitation. I must have my greens. I know it doesn't sound like it blends with the meal but to each their own. Right?! The portion was large enough to take home and have two more meals. If I ate at my correct portion size. But that's not for this conversation. In the past when I've been in with friends we've ordered the longaniza, this appetizer is one of my favorites. The stuffed jalapeños have also been a hit for people when we go as is the mole if you like it. It's tucked in a corner off of Powderhouse circle and doesn't look like much but if you want a hearty authentic Mexican meal this is the place. No avocado dip or chips and salsa but awesome Mexican food.
google avatar

Cristina R.

Yelp
I'm always surprised that there aren't more people here! One year, we came on Cinco de Mayo and didn't even have to wait. I love Tu y Yo for the Mexican menu items that are hard to find elsewhere in Boston, like grasshopper tacos and cactus. I've tried some of the more standard fare (carnitas, etc) and have found that these are less impressive. I've also ordered through the Food for All app, which is an awesome deal. It's under $5 for a to-go burrito, quesadilla, or enchiladas! All you have to do is order through the app and pick up during a certain time (currently 6-10 PM). The idea is that you're helping reduce food that may otherwise be tossed out at the end of the night. I love it! The burrito is good, but my fave thing to get through Food for All is the chicken enchiladas which are topped with a green tomatillo sauce and comes with rice and beans. Tu y Yo really fills a niche is the neighborhood. It's just you and me, kid.
google avatar

Jim L.

Yelp
I've been coming here for years for their lunch (more so recently having to work from home) and brunch. I'm surprised I haven't reviewed them yet as I'd give them six stars if I could. This is a truly authentic place with a diverse set of dishes, I'm a huge fan! It's a small shop and I always get a more personalized experience here - even when picking up. Their lunch is always a great value for what I get although sometimes the orders are inconsistent (e.g I may not get plaintains or avocados). I absolutely adore their brunch because it's always top notch, affordable and I never ever have to wait in line. Eggs and Chorizo are always done right and tortillas are served fresh. The ambience is amazing and good for having some space to think. When I first came here, I had mistakenly read the menu (added avocado and got charged per taco) and complained. The staff was genuinely sorry then offered to give me credit to make it up. I used that to buy Cafe de Olla which is an absolutely amazing (Mexican Coffee) and get that basically every time I go. The staff appreciates their customers and noticed how often I purchase that coffee drink. Every now/again slip me a free one :) As I read some of these recent negative reviews, most are due to issues with staffing and the pandemic. I really don't think they deserve as much criticism as is painted and nearly all restaurants are struggling in some way. Please go if you're on the fence - it'll be worth it!!
google avatar

Bill R.

Yelp
My family used to enjoy this place a lot. Perhaps we were being naive: tonight we ordered the sample plate of vegetarian tamales. When they arrived, the tamales were cold and soggy and obviously had been incompletely microwaved. We sent it back and the server was so unfazed that she told us to wait "three minutes": she must set the timer herself. Once your eyes are opened, you see it everywhere: my entree had also been heated in a microwave and I was paying $16.00 for a microwaved entree along with the microwaved appetizer. Take a look at the pattern at the end of the enchilada in the attached photo. If that doesn't look like it's been microwaved, disregard this review. If it does, save yourself eleven bucks by stopping at Trader Joe's and microwaving your own dinner.

Jenevieve A.

Yelp
I love this place and keep coming back. One of my favorite restaurants in the area. Definitely my favorite place in West Somerville. Tu Y Yo offers up traditional Mexican cuisine. I like them for brunch, lunch or dinner or even small events. The staff is always nice, friendly and accommodating. Most recently I had brunch here and I loved the Huevos Divorciados with plantains. Try the hot chocolate or coffee or mimosa. Make sure to get a bottle of their to-die-for house-made sangria to go.

Tommy H.

Yelp
Got the fish tacos and they were delicious. Best I've had in the boston area! 5 stars would recommend.

Joe P.

Yelp
No where listed on their website that says reservations only. They do not even provide a way to make a reservation on their website. Drove out of my way to get here and they tell me no walk ins. Horrible way to run a business. Maybe if you only allow reservations make that known somewhere or at least provide info on how you are supposed to reserve.

Edward F.

Yelp
This place is a thrown stone from my son's new apartment so we skipped over for lunch and ended up ordering from the brunch menu. Excellent food, good prices, friendly staff in this small little eatery that packs a bunch. We'll definitely be back when we visit the area.

Christine T.

Yelp
Great food and service! They have their own bottled white and red sangria. We tried the white. It was super refreshing. And the fish tacos were very fresh!
google avatar

Tara T.

Yelp
Let's face it. Boston isn't exactly a Mecca for Mexican food (mixing up my cultural references there but bear with me). However, Tu y Yo serves up some really tasty eats that strays from the tex-mex burrito/enchilada/quesadilla you're liable to get elsewhere in the Boston area. The guacamole came with two generous scoops and a dish of obviously-freshly-fried-made-in-house tortilla chips. The tamales sampler dish was perfect: $10.95 or so for 5 different tamales, some sweet (coconut, corn), some savory (pork, chicken, fish). All beautifully wrapped and portioned out, and served with a nice side of beans and cheese. And the entrees were solid as well: I found the mole sauce good although a little on the lukewarm side, and the chicken breast a tad dry. The crepa de cuitlacoche (Mexican "truffle") was damn delicious though -- cheesy crepe wrapped with excellently sauteed mushrooms and corn. We finished off the meal with an avocado cheesecake which was only okay -- it was an interesting dessert, for sure, and I loved the crunch and saltiness the pistachios brought, but the avocado itself felt a tad over-frozen and not that pleasant texturally. Barring a few small nits, this is an excellent restaurant if you're willing the make the trek out to Davis Sq. and then some. Cute ambiance although nothing too stuffy, friendly service, and good food.
google avatar

Yangsoo S.

Yelp
The food here is great but the issue is the portion of the meal. I got Carnitas($18 after tax) for takeout as one of the restaurant staff highly recommended it. When I opened my paper bag at my friend's place, I was surprised how small the portion was. The dish was composed of two little tiny scoops of Spanish rice, probably two table spoons of carnitas, some salsa de verde, salsa de roja sauces and three little tortillas. The carnitas tasted really great but I had to have chicken leftover to fill in my stomach. I wonder whether the portion would be larger if I had it in restaurant. For $18, it is not worth it.

ara o.

Yelp
Awesome and authentic Mexican food. Tasty and well done. Friendly staff, creative menu.