La Perla Tapatia

I remember going to this place with my brother few years ago, and tried tacos. I was able to tell the tacos were made from scratch, and was very delicious! The price for a food is pretty good and so was the taste! Too bad the owner closed the restaurant. I really liked his cooked food.

Smothered burrito and fresh hot churro with whipped cream… very good.

Closed

We decided to try La Perla Tapatia after reading other reviews and we liked it a lot! My Barbacoa plate was delicious! Never had it before and it dawned on me it was like Mexican pot roast! Very generous portion and accompanied by rice, refried beans, salad and avocado slices and your choice of corn or flour tortillas. Hubby had the chicken enchiladas and cleaned the plate! We did start off with the green chili soup as an appetizer and would recommend that as well. All in all, an enjoyable meal!

Second time here and it was just as delicious as the first time. Plenty of parking in the easy-​to-​find strip mall at Flintridge and Academy, and it’s a medium-​sized space. Not very busy when we were in there, but business appeared steady with customers coming in and out. Several booths with some tables, and it looked like there was an offshoot room for larger parties? Not much of an atmosphere, but it was bright and clean, and the colors coordinated much better than some of the other locally-​owned restaurants in town at this price level. However, you can still tell that it used to be an old Japanese joint.
Our server and host were both very efficient and nice. Our waters were kept filled, and food came quickly. The complimentary chips were good — one of the better ones I’ve had in town! Salsa needed a bit more of a kick and I felt like it came out of a Pace jar, but it was ok. My Tacos de Barbacoa Dorados were STELLAR. Never had anything quite like it! It was served warm with an enticing aroma that begged to be tasted. An addictive shell of both soft and crunchiness led the tongue towards a pile of tender meat and sautéed onions bursting with simple flavors. The dish came with three of them, which was plenty, and I know I’ll have to have them again soon!
I can’t remember what the boyfriend had because mine was so outstanding I hogged most of it. Too bad, but I seem to recall that he enjoyed his meal, too. They don’t have black beans, but they did have the option of either refried or pinto beans. My bf went with the latter.
For Colorado Springs, this Mexican place is top notch. TRY IT.

After living in El Paso for majority of my life and having great Mexican food. Everywhere else pretty much fails in comparison to them. Sure you can have good Tex-​Mex … But real Mexican food… Well Colorado Springs is really lacking. My favorite place was Café El Paso a family owned place by people from El Paso, but they just couldn’t make it in this economy so I’m on the lookout for a new place. La Perla Tapatia is a decent place to start. I guess this is the new location. It’s interesting because this used to be an Asian food place and some stuff still remains… While Tapatia tried adding a couple things to make it look more like a Mexican restaurant (Flags and Corona signs) it doesn’t really work… Kinda dumpy.
Anyway, my boyfriend and I sat down in an empty restaurant and we were immediately greeted by a waitress. Very nice and very attentive (the entire time). Menus in hand and chips and salsa on the way. The menu is small but that’s not necessarily a bad things. Here you find tacos, enchiladas, gorditas, and some other items. All in all a solid menu.
I ordered the carnitas my boyfriend had the enchiladas. I have to say I was a little worried about the food we were going to get because the chips and salsa are blah. Tomato sauce seasoned with cilantro is not salsa… Not even close. Thank goodness that salsa was not a true taste of things to come. The carnitas were very tasty. (people this is fried pork) tender, juicy… Just good flavor all around. My boyfriend practically licked his plate (half the reason was for that was he was «starving») other half was because he quite enjoyed the enchiladas.
Overall, La Perla Tapatia was a solid 3 stars. I did like them but compared to other places I’ve given 4 And 5 stars… They just didn’t have that «umph» to get them there. Good but not great!

Great service. We came in about 30 mins before they closed and stayed for about an hour. No pressure to leave and felt welcome.
Ordered the Camarones a la diabla and it tasted great. You can order it two different ways… with or without the shell. The Woman ordered a burrito… it was humongous!
I’ll have to get a burrito myself next time.

This was a mixed bag for me.
I hunted via Unilocal for Mexican food, since I am from the South and dont get too much good stuff down there. The burrito I had was good, the tamale, not so much. Burritos arent hard, tamales are. I met the owners, and they seem great, enthusiastic about their success, but to me, Mexican take out lives and breathes by how good the tamales are.
Bit of a drive if you are working Carson, but go, I am sure the experience is something to enjoy for adventurous eaters

Update on my previous review, since they moved to their new location on Academy:
Food pretty much the same, and still very good tacos, tortas and carne asada. Their salsa is not really good — served warm and with absolutely no spice, tastes like ketchup. Otherwise, still really good food.
The place itself is in a former Japanese restaurant, and the décor from the previous tenant is still very evident (decorated as a cross between Mexican and Japanese) — so that is kinda weird. This place is no longer the hole-​in-​the-​wall it used to be (I actually liked it’s old «divey» feel.) This is now absolutely a sit-​down restaurant. Service was very good.
I am just a little upset that they moved away from their convenient westside location clear over to Academy.

I thought I would write a new review for La Perla since they have moved and updated their menu.
This place is STILL the bomb! The only change is that they have tons more choices on their menu, and they are all still great! We live a little further from the new location, but are still willing to make the drive up because they are so good.
Another bonus is that their chips and salsa are now free! And there are more dessert choices!
Everytime we go here (which is often) we are so stuffed and happy we came!
Waitstaff is still excellent and friendly!

I just love this unassuming little place so much. I eat here every chance I can — and I live in Chicago! The burritos are the best I’ve ever had and the view of Pikes Peak from the dining room only make it extra nice.
Get the pork carnitas burrito — smothered. I guarantee you won’t regret it!

Having been in and out of Colorado Springs several times per year over the past six years to visit my family and friends, I’ve been on a seemingly never-​ending quest for authentic, cheap, quality Mexican food even though I’m admittedly obsessed with and addicted to Chipotle Mexican Grill. As a result, I reluctantly passed up Chipotle the other day to check out La Perla Tapatia with my father. What a pleasant surprise!
No doubt about it, La Perla Tapatia is the definition of a «hole in the wall» establishment. However, the second you walk in you realize that LPT also embodies the phrase «You can’t judge a book by it’s cover». The staff at LPT are absolutely amazing, and treat you like family from the second you walk in. After ordering at the counter, simply find a seat in the beautifully decorated and quaint seating area and wait to be impressed!
The burritos at LPT (only $ 6!) are absolutely massive, weighing in at well over 1 lb (500g +), and are filled with a great combination of beans, cheese, meat and tomatoes. My recommendation is to go for a smothered burrito, which combines one of LPT’s great salsas with the already stellar burrito. My only complaint was that my carnitas burrito was a bit short on meat, but for $ 6 I was disappointed for all of 20 seconds.
In terms of hole in the wall authentic Mexican cuisine, La Perla Tapatia really is as good as it gets in Colorado Springs. I’ll be coming back many times in the future.

For a St Louisan, it is hard to know what scale to use for Mexican when eating in Colorado Springs. There is so much of it and so much that is good. Four of us had good tacos here for dinner one night during our visit. Four stars is probably a little generouos but let’s not quibble. You walk in and order from the super friendly and helpful guys at the counter then find a table. Local Bro J was welcomed like a long lost brother.
The chips and salsa are gratis. The salsa is served hot (thermally, that is). It had a little too much cumin for me, but I actually liked it because of the way it slightly softened the chips, kind of like a chlaquile in your hand.
The tacos were large, served in double corn. You know you are in a Tapatian place when you don’t have to tell them you want corn tortillas. Praise the Lord! My taco de barbacoa was excellent, moist and well seasoned. I also had one taco al pastor and for not having the big trompo of meat to slice from it was still very good. Two tacos made plenty of food with a side of beans. The beans are good, perhaps a little too thickly textured. We used the red sauce on the tacos. It is typical of Jalisco a little sour with tomatillo with dried red chile (guajillo? de arbol?)and perhaps a little chipotle.
The waiter was extremely nice and attentive. This is a great place for some good Guadalajaran food. They feature tortas ahogadas which are very popular in Guadalajara. It is not something I decided I ever wanted to select over the other great food when I was travelling there. If I lived in The Springs, I would eat here often and would try one to see what I have been missing. Don’t forget La Perla serves a limited breakfast menu as well.

UPDATED 10÷24÷11: They moved to Academy/​Flintridge!
In an almost forgotten strip mall hidden on the West-​Side-​Yo! on 30^th is a squeaky clean dive (oxymoron?) that is overflowing with the corazón of Guadalajara.
Everything here is downright honest. The chips/​salsa for $ 2 are freshly made with a bowl of hot, almost soup-​like bowl of pico de gallo. The red chili hot sauce is reminiscent of Chipotle’s, only smokier and a tad more pungent (veiled praise). As others mention, the carne asada is delish with perfect barbecue seared flavor. Pollo es pollo. The Torta Ahogada is authentic cubes of pork tucked in a roll of bread smothered in a red tomato base – good, but I was expecting more. After eating from the various meat families, by far the carnitas is where it’s at.
I’ll go one on a ledge to say their smothered carnitas burritos are FREAKING FANTASTIC – manos down, the among the best you’ll find this side of the Jalisco state. Every bite alternates between soft/​chewy slow-​roasted pork with pieces that are crispy and almost charred. It’s filled with pintos, pico, generous cheddar, and I always order it smothered with their green chili. Try it and reply. Don’t agree? Let me know and I’ll jump. Just let me lurch from a high enough precipice with the carnitas burrito, 2 limes, and a Mexican Coke. I’ll need time to finish it all.

My wife and I love the delicious food and delightful owners. The owner is from Gudalahara and the food reflects that region of Mexico. It is not «typical» Mexican food. It is delicious and varied.
The home amde chips are served with a homemade salsa. The food is very modestly priced, but excellent. Don’t go expecting a fancy setting just great food. It is clear that La Perla has great neighborhood support with many regulars taking food to go.

So far, nobody has written about the #1 incredible find: the TORTA AHOGADA (drowned sandwich). After 18 years living in Los Ángeles, I could never find anything remotely close to the authentic Guadalajara staple: loads of carnitas (pulled pork) in a bolillo (crispy baguette roll), topped with sliced onions marinated in lime, smothered in a fabulous tomato and chipotle sauce (you can decide the degree of hot you want to go). Chef Sergio nailed it!
Come to try this, the flautas (filled with roasted goat: barbacoa) and the tacos dorados (my favorite is the potato ones)… to really know what good food from Guadalajara is. Yes, the prices are a little steep and there is no atmosphere*, but the food is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
Finish off with the Tapatio (Guadalajaran) version of Créme Brulée: a jericalla. You will come back. I promise.
* hence, I take one star back

Here’s an update so no one feels «mislead»…
La Perla is PRICEY for a dive… La Perla’s chips, rice, beans, and table salsa aren’t any good.
But the Carne Asada is unbelievable.
(See my initial review for a full report)

What’s the point of ordering at the counter if they serve you at the table restaurant style anyway? This causes a huge bottleneck in the front of the restaurant that could be easily avoided by just providing printed menus to look over while seated, rather than standing in the entryway taking up space and blocking others from ordering.
Menu was not descriptive, staff even less so. Asked about pollo poblano dish and was told, it’s chicken cooked with chiles. Um, yes I gathered that, thanks. Other members of our group were even less versed in mexican food and really struggled with what to order.
Homemade hot sauce was amazing as were the queso and jalapeño tamales. I appreciate that the owner makes everything from scratch.
The entrees were ok but I think this place is way overhyped. For being a top «hop on Unilocal» pick I was expecting much more. The main reason we came here was because we had been given a $ 25
gift certificate and redeemed it for this restaurant based on the rave Unilocal reviews. When we got there the owner said no way would he honor it and went into a long rant about how
stole his money, etc. I felt bad for him, but this threw a wrench in our gears a bit and he didn’t care at all. In fact he said he would give us a small discount for our trouble (not $ 25 though), but when it was time to ring up, magically disappeared and the gal had no clue about it.
Tasted like typical street Mexican food but priced much, much higher. I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here.

Tiny hole-​in-​the-​wall type of place. I like it though. I have only had tacos here. Barbacoa is GREAT, al pastor is good, and the carnitas were just ok.
It’s really small so if it gets busy (I have only been in at weird times like 3pm on a Wednesday) there may not be any seating for you.
The service is good, they’re really nice and helped me the first time I went in and they explain anything I can’t ID.
I am looking forward to taking my husband here when he is in town, because then we can try a bunch of different things instead of just tacos!

Great place for lunch. I have been going here for about 4 months, and it is always good. Fresh ingredients, good people, hot food. Wonderful family owned business.
There are about 8 tables, and the place is small, but it does not matter. What matters is the food. Great taqueria! Check it out! After the Indy reviewed it first, I tried it and was hooked. I will try to update this with a menu next time I am there.
UPDATE: OCT 2009
Yum…I almost always get the Tacos Durangos and it is so good. Deep fried tortilla’s with beans inside, covered in cabbage, onions and pork. Comes with two sides of a great sauce that just keeps on getting spicer as you eat. I wish I could eat this everyday! Still good and friendly folks, and great place to get some good grub. Shhh… it keep it quiet!