Editor’s Note: This past July, Michael and Nicole Borrell began reviewing Lebanon Valley’s restaurants and eating attractions as the Lebanon Valley Food Critics. Since then, the couple has aimed to offer unbiased reviews of the eating and drinking establishments the Lebanon Valley has to offer. LebTown is pleased to be partnering with LVFC to share these reviews with our readers. This review is one of several written prior to LVFC’s partnership with LebTown, initially posted Aug. 4. Bon appétit!

For this week’s meal, we decided we were in the mood for Mexican food.

And thanks to a couple of our followers for emailing suggestions, we decided to trek down to the 900 block of Cumberland Street and get takeout from La Placita de Lebanon: Authentic Mexican Food.

La Placita de Lebanon

Address
922 Cumberland Street
Lebanon, PA 17042

Phone: (717) 272-4062

Website
laplacitadelebanon.com/


Kitchen Hours
Mon: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tue: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wed: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Thu: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Fri: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sun: Closed

From the outside it blends in with the block and some may remember it from the building’s sports bar days.

Inside you find a small grocery with an eating area of about 10 tables for dine-in service. It gives off the vibes of mama cooking in the kitchen at home.

  • La Placita de Lebanon menu, page 1.
  • La Placita de Lebanon menu, page 2.

For our meals tonight we went with a chorizo torta ($7) and chicken tinga tostadas ($7.75).

The torta came with ground chorizo, a generous portion of avocado and your choice of hot peppers on a fresh bun.

A chorizo torta.

I went with jalapeno. But if you really want the heat; they also have chipotle and serrano (fire extinguisher not included).

This sandwich can get messy. Add a little extra mayo and extra heat if you order it.

What is tinga? It’s a stew made up of tomatoes, onion, garlic, and smoky chipotle, with oregano, bay leaf and thyme. Mixed with chicken on a taco shell with all the fixings, this dish provides an even share of taste and heat.

Chicken tinga tostadas.

The generous portion will challenge you but save some for a second meal the next day.

Our take: La Placita provides a meal that feels homemade and blends natural flavors with a gentle spiced heat into every dish. It provides bountiful portions for most dishes and is well worth the cost. The meals are always on point and dishes allow for you to try something different while maintaining what the novice Mexican eater tends to enjoy.

We give this place ????.

If you have a restaurant you would like us to visit or review, whether a place you like or are nervous to try, please message us on Facebook or email lvfoodcritics@outlook.com and let us know. We thank everyone for the recommendations and the kind words we have received.

Read more from Lebanon Valley Food Critics here

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