Delicious food and a great addition to Wanatah! All of the employees are very nice and super quick to help! It’s a VERY clean establishment, everything was visible and spotless! The food was very good, the flautas, tacos, burrito, queso, and horchata was great and very fresh! Will definitely get this again!
Aaron Brand
This small town east of Valparaiso, Indiana, known as Wanatah after early settlers misunderstood the natives' mimicked repetition of their question "Wanna talk?", was already on my radar for the half dozen or so trips I take each year between Fort Wayne and Chicago. Just down the road from the tsundoku goldmine that is The Bookworm, El Original stands out in this tiny town with its vibrant signage and waving cactus as a Mexican eatery. Although technically not "The Original", that ultimately works to its favor since this location is able to bring to Northwest Indiana the flavorful dishes that have helped make the Chicago location famous.
Being on my own for this trip, and hungry as all get out after a day of driving, riding a train, walking, sitting in court, walking, riding a train, and now driving again, I couldn't wait to stop in for dinner on my long commute back to F-Dub. Alas, they close at 6! Was I too late? Huzzah! upon pulling into the cozy parking lot I see lights on and a small sign saying new hours extend until 7:00.
The place was even smaller than I imagined, but one would not get that impression from the menu. Spoiled for choice, I finally settled on two beef tongue tacos--it's not truly a Mexican restaurant if it doesn't serve lengua--a chicken torta, chips and a small guacamole, and a homemade lemonade. Holy guacamole, Batman! The pictures on the menu did not prepare me for how much food I'd be getting! I specifically ordered from the a la carte menu to try a couple different items, but this was enough to feed three people.
The bread of the torta was soft and warm. The chicken was shredded and tender. I drizzled some of the provided red sauce on the sandwich and it carried the flavors to greater heights than Charlie and Willy Wonka fly in that magic elevator at the end of the movie (whoops! **SPOILER ALERT**).
The chips and guacamole were both exceedingly fresh. The warm chips gave the impression of a sit down cantina even though the restaurant is a small road-side carry-out with a few hightop chairs inside and some tables outside. The guacamole did not overpower with any one ingredient; rather, the avocado, cilantro, onion, tomato and spices all danced together like a conga line, one right on the heels of another.
The lengua tacos I kept simple: corn tortilla (which they doubled up muy authentico), onion and cilantro. I used a bit of the verde sauce but I wasn't necessary. The meat was perfectly cooked. And my wife would have been hard pressed to even tell it was cow's tongue because it was cooked and chopped so perfectly. (The origin of the cut of meat is always her reason for not trying it when I want to make it at home.)
So now, after this incredible meal, where do I go from here? I mean, does life even get any better? But seriously, I have a two hour drive home on an incredibly full stomach after a very long day, so if God calls me away to glory I think I could be quite pleased that this was my last meal. Thank you, El Original (Dos).
(Narrator: He did, in fact, make it home safely that night.)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Art Bustamante
Vegetarian options: The food was great and as close to original to tasty Mexican food as one can get.Will be back with friends soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chava's Special, Regular Salad, Order of Rice
mike hawkins
Great food, friendly staff.
Wheelchair accessibility: Wheel chair ramp left of front door
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Taco
Marcin
Pretty clean place for roadside food. A lot of take outs while we set by the window enjoying 4 different plates. Service was exceptionally nice. Good enough that I would recommend and stop by again.
If you want to stand there for 20 minutes without getting service. Please go waste your time here like I did.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Richard Dent
Food is awesome and great service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco Dinner
Bradley Larsen
Good food and great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Saúl Pérez
I used to go to this place back in the early 2000s in Chicago, Came to find out that there’s another one 30 minutes away From my house, Didn’t hesitate to go. Same taste and as good as they were over 20 years ago. I strongly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork and Chicken Sope, Lengua Tacos, Steak Taco
Jon Caldwell
Delicious authentic tacos
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco De Chili Relleno, Lengua Tacos, Steak Taco
Karina and her staff are amazing they got me in last minute order highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Rodriguez
Great food
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco Dinner
Big Cotton77
Good service. Steak and shrimp fajitas were delicious! Just stopped passing through and was not a mistake! Will be revisiting
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Moriah Bilenky
Food is really good! Taste fresh but also super fast service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lengua Tacos, Steak Taco
Matilde Roberts
We stopped here to grab some food and the food was really Good! We are from. San Antonio, Texas and I swear NO one has the best Mexican food than San Antonio! This is a hot spot for some really good Mexican food. Not like San Antonio but next to it! Great customer service and they did speak English at the register if you want to know!
Delicious food and a great addition to Wanatah! All of the employees are very nice and super quick to help! It’s a VERY clean establishment, everything was visible and spotless! The food was very good, the flautas, tacos, burrito, queso, and horchata was great and very fresh! Will definitely get this again!
This small town east of Valparaiso, Indiana, known as Wanatah after early settlers misunderstood the natives' mimicked repetition of their question "Wanna talk?", was already on my radar for the half dozen or so trips I take each year between Fort Wayne and Chicago. Just down the road from the tsundoku goldmine that is The Bookworm, El Original stands out in this tiny town with its vibrant signage and waving cactus as a Mexican eatery. Although technically not "The Original", that ultimately works to its favor since this location is able to bring to Northwest Indiana the flavorful dishes that have helped make the Chicago location famous.
Being on my own for this trip, and hungry as all get out after a day of driving, riding a train, walking, sitting in court, walking, riding a train, and now driving again, I couldn't wait to stop in for dinner on my long commute back to F-Dub. Alas, they close at 6! Was I too late? Huzzah! upon pulling into the cozy parking lot I see lights on and a small sign saying new hours extend until 7:00.
The place was even smaller than I imagined, but one would not get that impression from the menu. Spoiled for choice, I finally settled on two beef tongue tacos--it's not truly a Mexican restaurant if it doesn't serve lengua--a chicken torta, chips and a small guacamole, and a homemade lemonade. Holy guacamole, Batman! The pictures on the menu did not prepare me for how much food I'd be getting! I specifically ordered from the a la carte menu to try a couple different items, but this was enough to feed three people.
The bread of the torta was soft and warm. The chicken was shredded and tender. I drizzled some of the provided red sauce on the sandwich and it carried the flavors to greater heights than Charlie and Willy Wonka fly in that magic elevator at the end of the movie (whoops! **SPOILER ALERT**).
The chips and guacamole were both exceedingly fresh. The warm chips gave the impression of a sit down cantina even though the restaurant is a small road-side carry-out with a few hightop chairs inside and some tables outside. The guacamole did not overpower with any one ingredient; rather, the avocado, cilantro, onion, tomato and spices all danced together like a conga line, one right on the heels of another.
The lengua tacos I kept simple: corn tortilla (which they doubled up muy authentico), onion and cilantro. I used a bit of the verde sauce but I wasn't necessary. The meat was perfectly cooked. And my wife would have been hard pressed to even tell it was cow's tongue because it was cooked and chopped so perfectly. (The origin of the cut of meat is always her reason for not trying it when I want to make it at home.)
So now, after this incredible meal, where do I go from here? I mean, does life even get any better? But seriously, I have a two hour drive home on an incredibly full stomach after a very long day, so if God calls me away to glory I think I could be quite pleased that this was my last meal. Thank you, El Original (Dos).
(Narrator: He did, in fact, make it home safely that night.)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vegetarian options: The food was great and as close to original to tasty Mexican food as one can get.Will be back with friends soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chava's Special, Regular Salad, Order of Rice
Great food, friendly staff.
Wheelchair accessibility: Wheel chair ramp left of front door
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Taco
Pretty clean place for roadside food. A lot of take outs while we set by the window enjoying 4 different plates. Service was exceptionally nice. Good enough that I would recommend and stop by again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco Dinner, Steak Taco, Chicken Fajitas
If you want to stand there for 20 minutes without getting service. Please go waste your time here like I did.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Food is awesome and great service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco Dinner
Good food and great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I used to go to this place back in the early 2000s in Chicago, Came to find out that there’s another one 30 minutes away From my house, Didn’t hesitate to go. Same taste and as good as they were over 20 years ago. I strongly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork and Chicken Sope, Lengua Tacos, Steak Taco
Delicious authentic tacos
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco De Chili Relleno, Lengua Tacos, Steak Taco
Restaurantji Recommends
Karina and her staff are amazing they got me in last minute order highly recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco Dinner
Good service. Steak and shrimp fajitas were delicious! Just stopped passing through and was not a mistake! Will be revisiting
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is really good! Taste fresh but also super fast service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lengua Tacos, Steak Taco
We stopped here to grab some food and the food was really Good! We are from. San Antonio, Texas and I swear NO one has the best Mexican food than San Antonio! This is a hot spot for some really good Mexican food. Not like San Antonio but next to it! Great customer service and they did speak English at the register if you want to know!
Food: 5
Service: 5
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