Guadalajara Cafe

Last night was steak mariposa and the BEST, most flavorful moist tamales on the planet. Amazing — simply amazing.

One of the worst restaurant experiences I had in a awhile. Food just tasted pretty bad. Went home hungry.

This is the place we head when we’re craving Mexican food. The owner, Victor, remembers you when you come back and spends time going over the menu and making recommendations to newcomers. The décor is top notch, but it’s the food that has brought us back time and again. Not your standard Mexican fare, there’s really nothing that compares to this restaurant in Lee’s Summit or anywhere else in the area for that matter.

Really good! Very good drinks and service. The food was excellent, except for maybe the the rice but so what. The chile rellenos were fantastic!!!

The Chile Relleno is roasted, not fried, and is a standout. Very good food, unlike the typical Tex-​mex chain. Service was attentive.

I went to Guadalajara Café the other day for lunch and wow! What a quaint and authentic restaurant. The atmosphere was very private and calm. I ordered the Chicken Carnitas which were awesome and just what I needed to satisfy my weekday Mexican lunch craving! The prices are more expensive than your average Mexican Restaurant in LS, but you can count on skipping the greasy and ginormous portions! I recommend Guadalajara for lunch and it’s one of the best (hidden) Mexican spots in town.

My new fave Mexican restaurant… anywhere!!! :D And now we have one in Lee’s Summit. :)
(Disclaimer: I grew up in West Texas, and I can cook really good traditional Tex-​Mex myself.)
I came to Guadalajara Café with a Groupon, but I will **definitely** come back! :D
Grade: Five stars, «10.0,» A-​1… you get the idea. ;) lol Excellent service, great drinks, super fresh ingredients for awesome food, and pleasant Mexican adult easy listening music — led to an unforgettable dining experience. :)
I judge service on speed, competence, friendliness, helpfulness (without being pushy), and frequency of wait staff checking on my table’s status /​needs.
I typically judge Mexican restaurants’ food & drink by the following criteria: salsa, tequila-​based drinks, guacamole, chile relleno dishes, and bean dishes.
I had a relaxing lunch on a Saturday, so the typical weekday lunch menu (M-​F, 11 am-​4pm) wasn’t an option.
I had the following items:
1.a. Martini Margarita Guadalajara = $ 7, delicious, filled to the brim, sugared rim, and strong. ;)
1.b. Margarita Dulces (with Blue Curaçao) = $ 6.50, a house margarita (also $ 6.50) with liqueur flavor choices. It was delicious, filled to the brim, sugared rim, and strong. ;)
2. Guacamole = really fresh, with a beautiful presentation. $ 6.95 seemed steep, but it’s well worth it.
3. Chips & salsa = very fresh, and $ 1.79 for extra salsa… totally worth it. :)
4. Chile Rellenos Guadalajara (with chicken) = $ 13.99, BEST decision ever! I love the balance of ingredients, tomatillo sauce (spicy!), and the spices & filling are so fresh that my lips are tingling and my nose is starting to run. :P ¡Que perfecto! :D
— I debated on the Chile Rellenos a la Crema, and I’m so glad that I asked for my server’s recommendation between the 2 dishes. :)
— Beans (side) = served hot in a small bowl on the platter, with the perfect spices and consistency. :) I’m picky about the texture and salt content… and these are *just* right! :)
— Corn tortillas (side) = fresh and warm, hint of sweetness, and served just like toast or bread on the side for American and Italian dishes. :)
— Rice (side) = fresh and warm, fluffy, hint of spices, and served between my 2 chile rellenos.
5. Secret Ice Cream: I won’t spoil the presentation secret, but a creative and delicous arrangement of vanilla ice cream, chocolate & caramel sauce, and some cinnamon sugar.

By far one the best restaurants in Kansas City (and not just for Mexican food). Disclaimer: if you’re looking for old greasy cheesy Mexican food that all tastes the same at about 95% of the Mexican joints in KC, this place is not for you.
It is real. It is authentic. And it is awesome. We had a fantastic experience. We asked to speak with owner after ordering our drinks, as we heard he has a true passion for what he does and will lead you in the right direction. He did that and more. We had him pick all of our dishes from appetizer to to dessert. Each was better than the other, with the owner explaining exactly how each one is made as if he had his own show on Food Network.
The food was extremely fresh and it was very apparent a lot of time and preparation went into each dish. They offer some very unique items on the menu that you’re just not going to find at the normal run of the mill Mexican restaurant.
It was a really unique experience that you’ll rarely get from a restaurant. When the owner is that passionate about the food they prepare and takes the time to explain it so eloquently, it makes for an unforgettable dining experience (not to mention it was excellent)
My only concern is that it may not be in business for much longer if traffic doesn’t pick up. He has two other locations in Johnson County that he says are busy non-​stop. However, in Lee’s Summit, it’s just a whole different story. Maybe the Lee’s Summit folks just don’t appreciate fine Mexican cuisine and prefer limitless combinations of tacos, enchiladas, burritos, tostadas, etc that you can find anywhere. I really hope we can step it up and support this local restaurant, as it’s truly one of the best in the KC area.

This place really impressed us. First off, they always run a Groupon so check before you go. Not a great sign for their longevity, but I can guess why. They are more pricey than El Maguey or LA Fuente, but for very good reason. Their food is much better,
If you are looking for something one step above Taco Bell, you will probably not enjoy your experience here. This is authentic Mexican cuisine (they will tell you that a dozen times while you are there, BTW) and is quite good. The dishes are heavy on slow simmered sauces with wonderful taste combinations, lean cuts of meat and nice seafood. They are light on frying, oil, yellow cheese (plenty of white cheese though) and flour tortillas. The atmosphere is very private for a larger place and the service is always friendly and quick.
They are however higher priced. Entrees can run to the upper teens. For what you get, it is a bargain. With a Groupon, it is steal. We have decided it is well worth the price. We would rather eat here less frequently than go to a cheaper place more often.

Great Mexican food in LS. This is the same gentleman who owns another restaurant which we like, Ixtapa. The menu is similar to Ixtapa and the chilie rellenos are just as delicious.
It is refreshing to not be forced to eat greasy Mexican food in the Midwest. The seafood dishes are particularly interesting.
Not all Mexican food is bad for you and Guadalajara Café helps you eat well. we have ordered a variety of dishes here but my favorite dishes all seem to have the verde sauce.

Awesome! Since this is a restaurant review, this should focus on the food. But, I can’t talk about Guadalajara without mentioning the owner. He’s über friendly, entertaining, and more than happy to talk about the distinct qualities of the food. If you go for a first visit, be sure to ask for a recommendation. You’ll love the response!
Guadalajara Café is fresh, authentic Mexican food. I’ve been 3 times now, and each visit I have tried something new. The sea bass has been my favorite – filet and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.
Make plans to visit Guadalajara Café; you’ll be glad you did!

Hubby and I went here today for our anniversary and we went to dinner early. I’ve been wanting to try this place since they moved in and took over the old Tequila Harry’s location. We arrived at the restaurant about 3:45 and were promptly seated by our waiter Stephan. Stephan is an excellent waiter and redeemed the experience from being a one star experience for me.
We had to ask if they had Sangria since they did not have it on the menu. They had a Sangria Margarita but not just a plain old glass or pitcher of Sangria. Well we got our Sangria and mine was a lot ‘lighter’ in color than hubby’s. After I had enjoyed about an inch of my beverage, Stephan brought a ‘shot’ of something and added to my sangria and mixed it in to make it ‘darker’ in color. I thought mine was a bit watery, but there is now excuse for serving a weak drink in a restaurant that claims to be a good as the reputation of the Guadalajara Café.
Hubby and I both ordered the Carne Asada. I guess we were both spoiled by the Carne Asada at the place we would eat at when we lived in Clarksville, IN, unfortunately I can’t remember the name of that place.
I thought the portion of meat was small. It was not the Carne Asade, I was use to and it had very little seasoning. And there were no salt or pepper shakers on the table, my meat could have used some salt. My guacamole was grey, which indicated to me that was not as fresh as it could be. The onion on the Carne Asade was very tasty and the presentation was nice.
In terms of sour cream, I like sour cream, but there are those that believe it is not part of the authentic Mexican menu (i.e. the owner of Maggies in Lee’s Summit). The Pico de Gallo was OK, the rice and beans were also average.
I did like the salsa with the chips, but the hot sauce was too hot. The salsa was fresh and I could see the fresh cilantro in the salsa.
Well our dining experience was average. We are still searching for a good place for Carne Asada. The interior was up dated from the Tequila Harry days and the restaurant does a good job of riding on its ambiance. The food not so much.
The real clinker for me was when I went to pay. Apparently you cannot use pre-​paid Visa gift cards… their machine does not take them. Fortunately we had cash and were able to pay.
Guadalajara Café did not make a good first impression on me.

Awesome! The service was very good. The waiter took the time to explain the menu, as the food is not your typical Mexican food. We tried the Oaxaca Beef and squash blossom quesadillas. The food was unusual and tasted very good.
They seated a party of 30 people while we were there. We continued to enjoy attentive service despite a full restaurant.
We will be back to eat our way through the menu!

Wife and I have eaten at the Watts Mill location since it opened years ago. The original seems to be getting a little old and needs some updating, but now we have the new location in Less Summit. This place has definitely brought Guadalajara new life and that makes me happy.
We were visiting my sister in Lees Summit and we decided Mexican food. She said Guadalajara Café and although the name sounded familiar, I didn’t make the connection. We walked in and I said, gee this place looks familiar. Then I saw Victor (owner) and the picture was complete, he opened a new place in LS. Awesome! (I am terrible with names and can’t believe I remembered. Maybe it was because he did such a good job explaining the menu when we first walked into the original location all those years ago.)
Thinking that I was a cool and hip guy because I actually knew the owners name, I said hey Victor I am so glad you opened up this new place! He immediately went into a very animated explanation of the food and menu. Although there are few Texmex items on the menu, he will tell you not to order them. He went on for quite some time and had us in stitches by the end. It was really good to see the excitement of opening up a new place.
The food was awesome and I expected no less. My wife had the Camarones a la Diabla, which is spicy and buttery-​smooth.
Any of the Chile Relleno offerings are a good choice; the a la crema are my personal favorite. I also like the beef entrees. The Steak Ranchero is spicy and delicious.
If you want some thing that is unique and authentic, I highly recommend this place.

The first Guadalajara I ate at wasn’t this location. I remember ordering the tacos, which were on a plate of 5, and kind of disgusting. So I swayed from that poor decision, and I ordered the $ 9.99 plate of a taco, tamale and enchilada.
I believe Guadalajara is over priced. But what I ordered wasn’t over priced. This location, is odd, like the one on 103^rd street. I walked in, and noticed immediately there was no salt and pepper shakers on the tables. It truly doesn’t matter, I don’t normally add salt. The tables are wood, with some booths. There are also outside tables. Nice decorated on the inside, but a bit dark. I was greeted with the hostess, then the server walked over to assist me with the menu.
THEN, the owner came over and said, «Wait until you’ve tasted MY tamales!» I double and triple checked that nothing on my plate would have steak of any kind in it, and the server assured me nothing would have steak in it. I received my plate, after eating chips and salsa. Their salsa is delicious. I wish they sold it.
The taco was kind of boring, but pretty good. The enchilada I really enjoyed, with ground beef and I think there was enchilada sauce cooked with the ground beef. The beans, boring, the rice, yummy. The tamale actually needed the missing salt from the table. I took part of my tamale home, and gave a bit to the dogs which also loved it. Possibly I liked the tamale the best of all.
I loved it when the owner boasted about the tamale. This place has great customer service! It has a decent lunch menu that I might have to try. I liked this location much better than the one on 103^rd street.

Tried this with a Groupon and loved it. This is not your typical greasy spoon mexican. Authentic and Upscale without the Upscale Price! Now, it is my GO TO when my mexican cravings hit!
I recently meet a bunch of friends for a birthday there, and got to try a bunch more items than usual. I fell in love with the QUESADILLAS DE FLOR DE CALABAZA (squash blossoms) my first time there. This time we added the ENMOLADAS appetizer – very yummy. Yet, my new favorite appetizer is QUESO FUNDIDO. Oh my this stuff is good! Think melted cheese with mushrooms and something like brown gravy – KILLER brown gravy. Wrap it in the corn tortillas and this is enough for a meal for two (or three). Absolutely worth the weight gain!
Yes, we had amazing main courses. But for me, as a small-​plates-​sharing-​kind-​of-​girl, I love, love, love the appetizers here!