At Mariposa’s Latin Kitchen, flavorful Latin food served in a comfortable environment is the standard. Mariposa’s menu is less extensive than other Mexican food restaurants, focusing instead on the quality of each dish. Their food is light and fresh, and most importantly, tasty!
Atmosphere: 4 The restaurant is welcoming, with bright butterfly cookies on the counter and a vibrantly-painted butterfly on the wall. Mariposa means butterfly in Spanish. The rustic furniture integrates well with the modern interior design. The atmosphere does not make you think you are eating in old Mexico, but that is OK. They are serving contemporary Latin food in a contemporary atmosphere. The relatively small size of the restaurant helps keep noise to a minimum, making Mariposa’s a great place to have a quiet conversation.
Chips & Salsa: 5 First, you are greeted with fresh chips and delicious salsa. The chips were light and perfectly salted, making them irresistible. The salsa is on the chunky side, which is a requirement for good salsa. When you take a bite, you instantly think, this didn’t come from a can. The flavor is spot on.
Lita’s House Margarita
Margarita: 3 Recently Mariposa’s added mixed drinks to their wine and bottled beer menu. The house margarita, the Lita’s, is OK. Honestly, I expected more, especially for $7.00. Other variation of margaritas are also available. All margaritas are served on the rocks.
Queso: 3 The queso is good, but not memorable. Stick with the salsa, as it is delicious and free.
Tacos: 5 For the entrée, I absolutely love the beef fajita and fish taco combination plate ($10.99). The beef fajita meat is cooked in a very unique way. It is slightly crispy on the outside, almost reminiscent of beef jerky. But on the inside, the beef is tender and full of flavor. The fish is lightly pan fried. Each are presented beautifully with colorful condiments. The pork tacos are good, but are a few steps behind the others. For a vegetarian option, order the black bean tacos. Even a carnivore can appreciate these. Taco plates come complete with rice and beans. Try the Cuban rice instead of the conventional Spanish rice for a unique treat! It is so good, Rebekah substitutes the beans for a second portion of Cuban rice.
Steak Fajita and Fish Taco Plate
Enchiladas: 4 Like the tacos, the enchiladas feature Mariposa’s delicious meats rolled in corn tortillas. Different sauces top each option, making them significantly different than their taco counterparts.
Service: 4 The restaurant has a family-run atmosphere, and the service makes you feel like you are part of the extended family. This most often means cheerful and fun. However, sometimes during busy periods, the servers struggle to keep up with all of the tables.
Other Noteworthy Items: While not a part of the grading scale, Mariposa’s is known for their tamales. Unlike other places, one tamale will fill you up. They are giant! The most popular tamales will often sell out, so come prepared with a back-up plan. Mariposa’s even offers seasonal tamale specials, such as a turkey tamale with cranberries, served with a side of mashed sweet potatoes.
Chips and Salsa
If you have room after dinner, try one of the delicious-looking cinnamon rolls, topped with vanilla ice cream. One day I will eat less chips and salsa and try one of these tempting pastries!
Exterior of Mariposa’s Latin Kitchen
For a complete guide to the Perfect Tex-Mex Food Experience, refer to From Texas to Beyond’s Ideal Tex-Mex Restaurant.
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