Mi Pueblo

A little back story: I grew-up in Lakewood, where to me Mexican food was Chi-Chi's and Taco Bell. Then I moved-out to Tucson for graduate school and spent 10-years there. I didn't want to leave. With all all the 24-hour taco shops where you could get a great chilie relleno @ 3am, and all the authentic Mexican Food, I was in heaven. Chi-Chi's be damned. But there I am, back in NE oHIo, trying to find some decent Mexican Food... Mi Pueblo's is damn close to authentic. It was recommended to my sister-in-law as the most authentic around, by the Mexican landscapers that work for her. To me, a chilie relleno is the best gauge of the authenticity of a Mexican Restaurant. The chilie's have to be mild. The cheese has to be creamy and thick, and they have to be dipped in egg batter and golden fried, topped with a red chilie sauce. And for Pancho Villa's sake, there can't be meat in them! (Every Mexican place I have been to in OH and NY that has ""chilie rellenos"" put's beef in them...). Contrary to what a reviewer below stated, my chilie relleno's were almost perfectly done. Is it as good as what I could get in Tucson? Nope. But it's damn close, given our location, and what the palate of the average gringo likes (Taco Bell ::cough::). The biggest downfall was that it seemed over priced for the food. One should never have to pay $9 for a 2-chilie relleno dinner. more

I am another reviewer that has to preface their review by saying: ""I used to LOOOOVE Mi Pueblo"". But....... My wife and I used to dine weekly at Mi Pueblo. It was a popular place with great food and great atmosphere. The marinated spicy carrots alone are still on my top ten favorite foods list. The servers were cheerful and welcoming, the margaritas perfectly mixed and brimming with glistening sea salt. 6 years later..... We don't get over there as much, but last week we got inspired to meet after work on friday. All week, I was looking forward to friday,for an old favorite. When we walked in we saw maybe three tables seated, on a FRIDAY! This should have been a warning sign of their demise. We were greeted by the backs of two fat servers who made no effort to turn around even though one of them did glance up at us when we walked in. Finally someone in the back saw us and sat us. Our server was nice enough, if not aloof, and she brought us our salsa with a pursed smile. The salsa was as good as ever, fresh ingredients, perfect recipe (I'd love to have it!) But she didn't bring the carrots!!! The goddamn carrots are the reason we came here!!!! So we had to ask, and when they arrived, I popped one in my mouth and my face sank. They were under-marinated, not ready yet. As crisp as fresh carrots and barely any of the signature appeal of tangy and spicy. Just a bowl of slighty salty wet carrots. D- But we said, like victims of abuse, that it was just an accident and it won't happen again. Then our pitcher of Margaritas came (20$). It was a pale greenish color. We ordered salted rims and mine might have had 20 granules of TABLE salt clinging on to one half inch spot. It tasted like watered down lime Kool Aid with a watermelon Jolly Rancher in it. And not the slightest hint of Tequila. For a 20$ pitcher I had to say something. After politely asking to punch it up a bit, she obliged and returned with the pitcher. We were back on track. While we waited, we were serenaded by a smiling Mariachi, to whom we tipped for his service. Unfortunately in the desolate dining room, he came across as more of a street musician begging for money than the jovial performers we remembered. The food, I must say, was terrific. I had the Carne Asada ala Tempiquena (spelling?) and it was cooked to temp, and seasoned excellently. My wife said the tostadas she ordered were the best she ever had there. So we were back in high spirits and able to salvage the night, our bellies full and a couple of Margaritas helping us along. And we were ready for the check. But our server had been missing for at least 10 minutes. Not a sign of her. American Spirit cigarettes don't even smoke for that long. We were ready to go for at least 15 minutes before another server finally noticed our demeanor and got the check for us. I asked ""are you our server now?"" and she replied ""No, she's at the bar talking to the Mariachi."" So we paid, and tipped her accordingly (I used to work in service, so it takes more than this for me to not tip someone at all). Overall, I still have hope for Mi Pueblo. All of the right pieces are still there, they just have to pull them back into what it used to be. I really only wish the best for you Mi Pueblo. Good luck in the future. We will give you another chance, I don't know how many more, but at least one. more

Let me preface, Mi Pueblo used to be the place to be 6 to 7 years ago, packed, waiting for a table, kinda like how Melt in Lakewood is now. The last few years my husband and I have gone sporatically and it has been hit or miss. After last nights experience, I will NEVER be going to one of my favorite places ever again. I ordered a Burrito, wanting to get bean, yet the wattress stressed a vegetable one or an avocado one would be better. So I got a vegetable one and what was inside was more than shocking. The ingredients contained the same carrots, celery, and potatos from the soup. It was the same texture and taste as the soup, which leads to believe they laddled it from the soup. How can you serve this? My husbands meal was cold and he asked for corn tortillas receiving flour. Food is way too overpriced and horribly a disgrace to what it used to be. Pros: salsa and pickled carrots Cons: overpriced soup ingredients in burrito more

I love Mexican cuisine for the great flavors and the fabulous tequila and these were both seriously lacking at Mi Pueblo. Pros: Nothing Cons: Everything- I still get nauseous thinking about this meal more

I felt as though I was back in Mexico. The place is nothing to look at, but a real Mexican experience. Food was authentic with a good variety of menu options. Salsa was fresh and hot, I loved the spicy carrots. Portions were large and food was flavorful. Food could have been hotter and served quicker. I found the price's reasonable. I will definitly make it a frequent stop. Pros: Food, drinks, price Cons: parking more

I read comments from others and I was fairly excited to try this place since it seems hard to find good Mexican food in Ohio. I was born and raised 40 years in California near LA where there is an abundance of such -- I was disappointed first by the chips which are clearly not homemade but are store bought/from a bag. The salsa was the same and had the familiar quality of Herdez brand canned salsa. The refried beans had the distinct taste of canned pintos that have been smashed and served up. The mole verde was unflavorful and was notable only for its saltiness. I'll just have to keep looking because Mi Pueblo definitely does not fill the bill for my taste of authentic Mexican food. Pros: easy to find, parking in back Cons: the food is not good more

I think I might possibly know every great, authentic restaurant in any state I have traveled to. Unfortunately, I have never found a great place in Cleveland that was truely good, authentic mexican! Today, I tried Mi Pueblo and I have FINALLY FOUND MY HOME FOR MEXICAN FOOD!!! I read a couple of comments that the place was ""questionable"".............I am a single female and was not scared of the location for a moment and never felt that Mi Pueblo was anything but very clean and welcoming. The servers and owner (and his brother that owns the eastside location) were very kind and welcoming-I didn't feel like the awkward gringo in this great place! If you really love authentic Mexican food (no taco seasoning here), you will love Mi Pueblo! If you're on a tight budget, splurge on the amazing margaritas and just enjoy the chips, salsa, spicy, pickled carrots and order the $1.65 tacos that are the best tacos you will ever have! (Carne Asada was my favorite) Thank You Mi Pueblo!! Love you, Love you and you will see lots of me! Pros: They use only the freshest, most authentic ingredients,they even butcher their own meat! Cons: Parking is probably limited at busier times. Other than that, I see no negatives more

This is a great Mexican restaurant! Very authentic, interior is festive, service was fast. Parking isn't alway the best, but worth it to try. We had to wait a little bit for a seat, but the Margaritas were yummy & the food great. Pros: margaritas more

We went late one Friday night. There was limited parking in the front, so we parked in the back. From the outside the place looks like a dive, but on the inside, it is clean and well lit. The Margaritas were excellent. They are a little expensive, but worth every dime. The salsa is very good, and so are the spicy carrots that came out with it. This is an AUTHENTIC mexican restaurant. We ordered the quesadilla and taquitos and they were not what we expected. A little bland to say the least. It took a while for our food to arrive. Our entrees were okay, but twice as good reheated in the microwave. The refried beans had a really good taste to them. The check came and with 2 appetizers 2 Margaritas and our 4 entrees it was over $100 for 4 people. We were shocked! Pros: Good Margaritas, Casual Dress Cons: , Expensive, Snooty Waiter more

My family and I have to come to Cleveland every so often for our son to receive care at the Children's Hospital. Mi Pueblo is a ""must stop"" for a trip of any length. It's one of the few places that actually bring comfort, as well as dining pleasure while on the trip. My own gauge of the quality of a Mex restaurant is their salsa. Mi Pueblo's is top notch and their guacamole is the most outstanding I've EVER tasted. So if you're in the area and you like Mexican food, YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO STOP!!! Pros: Inexpensive, Cozy, Friendly Staff Cons: Inadequate Parking, Sneaks Up On You more