Adventure 44: La Hacienda

La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant (website)
515 S. Park St.
3 Adjectives: Fast, tasty, spacious
Price: entree (6-16)
Authenticity:
Atmosphere:
Overall:
Other Opinions: yelp, madisonatoz, dinedotcom, ...
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With very few Mexican options near campus, La Hacienda is much welcomed in the Madison dining scene. The restaurant is located within walking distance on South Park Street (near Inka Heritage) and is hard to miss. As the name suggests, the restaurant is shaped like a small Mexican ranch complete with faux-adobe walls.

The interior has a large dining area with fast-foodesque furniture that doesn't quite match the theme of the restaurant. Also the bright lighting and high ceiling makes the restaurant feel emptier than it is and the slightly rundown look suggests the place has seen better days. Contrary to the slightly-off decor, the food is fairly good. After being seated there is free chips and salsa like most Mexican restaurants as you peruse the menu. The salsa is okay, albeit a bit watery. The menu is expansive and inexpensive with some nice traditional dishes like chicken enchiladas with mole sauce (something I have not seen elsewhere in town).

One item I would recommend above all others is splitting the parrilladas chica (pictured above) with 1-3 other people (depending on how hungry you are). This is very affordable considering you end up paying $7-3 for a meaty meal. The dish comes with a mini fancy kerosene stove and a metal plate that is piled high with various meats, onion, potato, and cilantro. The meat is perfectly seasoned and flavored. You can wrap your own burritos fajita-style and the meat always stays warm! One note is to be sure to remember to blow out the flame when the meat starts to burn, lest you want a plate of blackened meat. The waiters are very nice and provided us with plenty of tortillas. To get the full-on experience, order the corn tortillas.

The cheap food at La Hacienda is certainly tasty enough that it beats the steep prices at other downtown Mexican restaurants. I would recommend checking out this restaurant if you have a group of friends eager for some inexpensive Mexican food.