La Lupita - Lenoir City

Excellent! I love this place even more than the one in Maryville. The staff is really friendly and accommodating. They even make tortillas, which is something the other location makes a big deal about. The food is fantastic, and there's a lot of variety!

Authentic food. This place truly delivers. As someone from Texas, where there are extensive grocery stores dedicated to Hispanic culture and cuisine, I can confidently say that this restaurant is a hidden gem in East Tennessee for anyone who appreciates this type of culinary experience. The portions are generous for the price, and you won’t be disappointed by their handmade tortillas. They also provide three different salsas, along with chopped onions and cilantro. The staff is friendly, the service is excellent, and overall, it’s a wonderful place to dine.

We stopped by La Lupita for breakfast today. We ordered homemade guacamole and Huevos a la Mexicana. The tortillas were freshly made and absolutely delicious! We also enjoyed the home-cooked beans that accompanied our meals. However, I deducted a star because we couldn’t find any bottled water for sale, and the Huevos a la Mexicana was mostly made up of tomatoes and onions—about 80 percent—when traditionally it should be 80 percent eggs, with the rest being onions, jalapeños, and tomatoes. I may be a Gringa, but I've been with my Mexican friend for 11 years and can definitely make a proper Huevos a la Mexicana myself. To be fair, the staff here were not Mexican, so perhaps they just need a bit more practice. I would give 10 stars for the beans and tortillas! The customer service was also quite good. You can purchase imported items in their store, including things like Japanese peanuts and Habanero sauce, as well as tortilla makers (see the photo below). This Mexican store is the most expensive one I've encountered in Tennessee. You can find Mexican markets in Maryville, Sweetwater, Athens, Cleveland, and Knoxville with better prices.