La Mestiza

I made a video asking what the best Mexican restaurants are, and so many of you told me La Mestiza has the best Mexican food in Madison. Let's see if that is true.

The Lowdown

• City: Madison, WI
• Address: 6644 Odana Rd, Madison, WI 53719
• Phone: (608) 826-0178
• Website: lamestiza.com
• Choice of corn or flour tortillas with entrees

What I ordered

Bistec con salsa guajillo. That is strip steak simmered in a red guajillo sauce with chopped onions and cilantro, rice, and refried pinto beans. About $16. I was told the most popular dishes are the cochinita pibil, slow cooked citrus marinated pork wrapped in banana leaves with pickled onions, and the borrego en chile pasilla, lamb shoulder simmered in a dark pasilla sauce.

My thoughts on the food

Salsa verde is fresh and definitely authentic. The red salsa has a kick, and personally I like red more than green. The chips are a little more airy, which I am a big fan of.

I had never ordered anything like this before. The corn tortillas are insanely fresh. The sauce has a little sweetness to it, a little sweeter than I would prefer because I am obsessed with spicy stuff. That is my fault, not the restaurant's.

The refried beans are on point, and the rice is some of the best Mexican rice I have had. That mix of rice, beans, and steak together is really good. I almost prefer it over the tortillas, the rice is just that good.

The vibe

I got there right when it opened and nobody was there. It started filling up quick. You can tell how authentic everything is the second you walk in.

The verdict

Overall a great place. If you want authentic Mexican food, La Mestiza in Madison off Odana, go give it a shot and keep supporting local businesses.