El Chicano

When it comes to authentic Mexican you usually give up atmosphere. Now I'm not saying that this place is like your Ruth's Criss or the like, but when it comes to authentic Mexican this place takes tops (enjoy the random starting of the juke, we love that). The owners are from Guerrero, a state that holds a special place to me since I honeymooned there. The food is just incredible, real authentic, with a few Tex-Mex dishes for the uninitiated. The seafood is incredible, with ostiones (oysters) that cost next to nothing but are of the quality you would pay big bucks for. The tacos tripas and lengua are out of this world, as is the torta cubana. The salsa is the best you can find anywhere, with a heavy dose of cilantro, and warming. The sauces they bring to the table with your food are also excellent, especially the red. I don't live in Lafayette anymore, but everytime I come back I will return. It would be a shame to loose such a gem, so please give this place a try and I promise you will not be disappointed with the quality and care that goes into making this food. Compared to the big chain places where your food comes premade and they set it on a nuclear reactor and then give you this mess of goo, this place actually makes their food with expertise and skill that is unmatched.